Local News Update on Surgery Outcome of Jerry Cash; All the Way from Beijing, China!
Written by Traci Cash Friday, 29 June 2007 06:00
Medical Update on Wakulla County Native Jerry Cash
{sidebar id=1}Exactly nine years ago as of July 2, 2007, Wakulla County native Jerry Cash fell from some scaffolding while doing brick masonry work. As a result, he was paralyzed from the waist down. A little over a week ago, he and his wife Traci traveled to Beijing, China to have OEC (Olfactory Ensheathing Cells) treatment to try to help Jerry regain the feeling in his lower body and hopefully, to eventually regain the ability to use his legs. Traci emailed us this morning with the latest news on Jerry's recovery, and frankly, it's incredible!!! Here is what Traci had to say:
"Jerry is being treated in Beijing, China at the Xishan Institute for Neuroregeneration and Functional Recovery. It is a university hospital. Jerry underwent surgery on 6/20, during which the surgeons implanted OEC cells (olfactory ensheathing cells). These cells are present in the olfactory system and transmit your sense of smell. They have a coating similar to the coating found around spinal cord cells, and they continue to reproduce, unlike spinal cord cells. The second day after surgery, Jerry noticed he had feeling further down on his stomach and sides. That afternoon a Chinese masseuse/physican came in and did some very deep tissue massage to help awaken all of the nerves. Immediately afterward, Jerry realized he could move his left leg from side to side. The right leg is weaker, but is coming around."
"Over the last few days, with continued acupuncture and massage, he has feeling deeper in his muscles and is regaining some hip movement. He can feel the deep massage on his legs and moved his right foot slightly yesterday. He is progressing very well and the physicians on staff are very encouraged. Although he is regaining movement, the muscles have been dormant for 9 years and it will take many months of physical therapy to strengthen and rebuild the muscles and the brain pathways. His mind has not had to "think" about moving legs and feet in many years, and it must be exercised as well. We are very hopeful that the progress will continue - he is feeling more and more everyday. We have a lot of work ahead."
"There are patients here from 3 to 75, from all over the world. We have a prince from Sudan as our neighbor, and there are folks from Egypt, Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, Thailand, Holland, Japan and Wisconsin. So far Jerry is experiencing the most improvement. The doctors are pleased with his attitude and determination. Unfortunately, there are some here who aren't gaining many improvements. We feel very blessed."
"We are very homesick. The standard of living here is very poor, and it has made us so much more appreciative of the comfortable life we have. The support from family and friends in Wakulla county is amazing, and helps with the loneliness. Ya'll keep up the prayers and we'll be back home in a couple of weeks!"
- Traci Cash
Alright folks! Let's show Jerry and Traci some good old Wakulla County love and send some positive notes their way! Please send them some words of encouragement by putting a comment here at the bottom of this article. If you are not already a registered user, all you have to do is click here to complete the simple registration process, go to the front page of the site and log in with your username and password, then come back to this article and add your comment. YOU MUST BE LOGGED IN TO LEAVE A COMMENT!
This information originally published on July 27, 2007.
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