Pearl’s Stroke Recovery Journey
Sadly, Pearl suffered from a stroke. Her husband has chronicled her journey.
Thu, Sep 22, 3:09 PM
Dear Dr. Cruz,
I am writing to you because I think you’ll be happy hearing about this special incident:
Last night at 11 PM, my son Joshua, my daughter and I pushed Pearl on the wheelchair and walked across the Big Four Walking Bridge. We spent 1.5 hours on this walk.
This morning at 11 AM, while we had a little break during PT session, I asked Pearl if she remembered the walk last night. Typically, Pearl had no short-term memory after her stroke. But during this break, she remembered the following.
1. She went to walk across the bridge.
2. The bridge has many lights; the lights changed into many colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, white, and black.
3. A young man with a beard was singing hymns on the bridge.
4. The bridge has many spider webs.
5. Classical music was played on the bridge.This is amazing! With the Etanercept and Stem Cell treatments, she now has short-term memory!!! This has never happened before even since she had the stroke!
Thank you!!!
Best regards,
J.H.
Thu, Sep 22, 8:09 PM
Dear Dr. Cruz,
I just remembered additional things from last night’s walk:
Last night at 11 PM, my son Joshua, my daughter and I pushed Pearl on the wheelchair and walked across the Big Four Walking Bridge. Toward the end of our walk, Iris walked behind the wheelchair and talked to Joshua about being stung by a scorpion and that a scorpion can flatten itself and get into a house. Pearl was bothered and asked Iris to stop talking about it because it is scary.
This means Pearl can engage in a conversation. Pearl is no longer like a typical stroke patient living in a bubble and unaware of the happening of the surroundings. This is a sign of Pearl’s recovery.
Thank you so much for treating Pearl!
Warm regards,
J.H.
Thu, Sep 22, 10:49 PM
Hi Dr. Cruz,
Today, Pearl does the 3-digit number reverse exercise even better than yesterday showing that the Etanercept and your other treatments are working. I did this with Pearl on both days during Dr. Albeiro’s treatment sessions. She would use her index finger to write the 3 digits on her pants and then reverse them. If I said the answer is wrong, she would repeat the original 3 digits without me telling her again and then revise her answer. Only when Dr. Albeiro’s treatment became too painful for her that she would get her answer wrong.
In summary, today, Pearl does the 3-digit number reverse exercise faster and with better short-term memory than yesterday.
Good night,
J.H.
Fri, Sep 23, 6:48 PM
Dear Dr. Cruz,
One more good news: today, Pearl said she can see more from her left eye. Two or three days ago, she wasn’t certain about this. Today, she is.
Best regards,
J.H.
Sun, Sep 25, 1:34 PM
Dear Dr. Cruz,
Today, at 1 PM, I was going to massage and loosen up Pearl’s left arm. But when I lifted her left arm, I found that it’s loose and flexible. It is as if her left arm has been exercised by Dr. Albeiro. This must be the effect of the Perispinal Etanercept!
Best regards,
J.H.
Fri, Sep 30, 1:17 PM
Dear Dr. Cruz,
Yet another improvement today (9/30) which I have not seen before.
As we walked near our hotel, a truck drove into a parking lot. We then walked behind the truck. Pearl then started to worry that the truck might back up and hit us. This is the first time after her stroke that she played a possible scenario.
BTW, the truck did indeed back up shortly after we passed it.
Best regards,
J.H.
On Mon, Oct 3, 2022 at 12:19 PM J.H. wrote:
Dear Dr. Cruz,
One more improvement for Pearl today:
We had passed security check and were at the gate. The broadcasting system announced that someone had left behind a computer. Pearl then asked me if that was my computer.
Pearl was able to hear and understand the announcement among all the noises at the gate. This couldn’t have happened before her treatment by you.
Best regards,
J.H
On Fri, Oct 21, 2022, at 11:50 AM J.H wrote:
Dear Dr. Cruz,
One amazing thing happened this morning around 8 AM: Pearl was able to quote a part of a bible verse even before I did. While I was trying to remember how the verse started, Pearl already said it out loud. This shows that your treatment is working.
Another thing: were you able to fax information to Pearl’s PCP doctor? Dr. Chen’s fax number is 408-871-6302.
Best regards,
J.H
Wed, Nov 23, 3:27 PM
Dear Dr. Cruz,
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
I want to share some great news with you. Yesterday around noon time, a Speech Therapist Mr. Thomas came for the 2nd visit. He recommended giving Pearl some solid food. This is quite a big jump. Pearl hasn’t even eaten semi-grounded food since last Christmas. And Pearl didn’t eat anything by mouth for the whole of last week. But we gave it a try anyway. I heated up a Chinese bun (with vegetables inside) and cut it into small pieces. Pearl was able to eat two pieces and chew and swallowed them. What a miracle! This must be due to your stem cell treatment. Thank you!
Around 5 PM yesterday, I heated up another bun and Pearl ate three small pieces! So, this eating is not a one-time event. She can indeed eat now.
Best regards,
J.H.
Mon, Dec 12, 11:25 PM
Dear Dr. Cruz,
I would like to report a good news to you! Since Nov 22, Pearl has made a sudden leap from liquid, tube-feeding diet to solid food diet. It is nothing short of a miracle! I am certain it is due to your stem cell treatment! I have detailed records of her eating. Please see attached doc.
Warmest regards,
J.H.
