5 JUNE 2025 - No stemcells for you in BC

So after a pretty long and difficult trip to Houston last month I got a double dose of stem cells and I feel is working to help rebuild my strength. But I will need another dose and if I have to go to Houston to get it, its getting harder and harder to do.

So I reached out to the ALS Clinic at UBC with hopes that they could help me with this treatment and they said:

"Unfortunately we do not have any ongoing local research at UBC at this time 
that involves treatment with stem cells.
If this is a clinical care-related inquiry, please kindly follow up with our 
nursing team (ALSClinicRN@vch.ca), copied here."

I will keep trying. I need hope to keep living.

26 MAY 2025 Lawn Mowing

I am able to get lifted on to the driveon mower with a winch. Its actually pretty satisfying to be able mow the grass from this machine. I love the smell of the grass and sushine on my face.

The mower gives a gentle hip massage while we go over chunks of mud and wood burried deep beneath the lush green undergrowth. Small trees sprout between flowers and clover and in days the lawn has become forest again.

This also has me thinking about the ATV and the possibility of going to the river in the ATV. I would love to go to the river more. I feel pretty trapped here sometimes not being able to get out and enjoy alot of the things I used to do.

24 MAY 2025 Spring Rain in the Rain Forest

Its been raining in the rainforst. Sitting outside listening to the sound of water on the leaves. Cool days still waiting for a real Spring. We planted the garden beds today.

The forest feels full of life, vibrant greens from ferns and leaves

24 MAY 2025 Stand Up chair

I am very grateful that I found a stand up wheelchair thanks to Julie who is an amazing RMT. I can now start put some weight on my legs and core. Its great to be finally standing again. Its a good exercise for me to put some weight on my legs.

The next step will be to add electric scooter wheels so I can have some mobility. We will 3D print some parts and add some new controls to this beast and soon I'll be off to the races.

23 MAY 2025 - A Prayer for Mother

My mother was kind and forgiving, but stern, and I’m grateful for her firm and and kind words. She gave me compassion and love for life. She also gave me a passion for art, cooking and love of growing food. Nurturing, gardening, and also respect for living creatures all comes from my mother, who was Armenian.

She gave me her respect for humanity and her unswerving view of what was right and wrong. Her spirit was a pillar of strength for our family and she raised me well. She deserves to be recognized as a strong, powerful woman who raised two children took care of my father.

7-10 MAY 2025 - Hope BioScience

I am very grateful that I found Hope BioSciences based in Houston Texas USA. This company was actually founded by a woman who studied for her PhD in Toronto. They specialise in cloning very specific stem cells.

These cells are mesenchymal stem cells that have the potential to transform into all kinds of cells that the body needs. Particulary nerve cells that can become motor neurons.

6-12 APRIL 2025 - Caribbean Cruise

Karen and I went on a Caribbean Cruise just recently for a her birthday present. The boat was enormous 15 floors above the water line with 3 pools. Dozens of bars, restaurants and a casino.

We also visited the Bahamas, Cozumel and Cayman Islands. It was a great chance to relax and soak up some much needed sun and swim in the pools and hottub. The boat was Celebrity-Reflection and was quite accessible.

Staff were friendly and the food was good. We left out of Ft Laurderdale Florida. Overall it was quite affordable and a really great experience I would highly recommend to anyone in need of a break. I am very grateful to be able to make this trip.

6 MARCH 2025 - Sparkling Hill Resort

Karen and I checked into the Sparkling Hill Resort and Spa for three days for a retreat. It is really nice here and from the minute we arrived I started to relax and feel the stress disappear. Apparently this place is ranked number 1 in Canada for accessible resorts. It certainly gets top marks from me with an accessible room, and they even have a pool lift making it possible to enjoy the hot tub and pools.

The resort has great dining options with three restaurants. There also multiple saunas and steam rooms, massage treatments and a cryo chamber at -110Celsius! Most of the steam rooms and saunas are accessible with low benches and wide doors. I highly recommend this place for a great getaway.

24 FEB 2025 - Pam's Pizza Party

Pam brought pizza for everyone. Homemade sourdough pizza with lots of toppings. We made a couple of spicy meat pizzas. Kare likes the vegetarian pizzas with olives, feta, artichokes, spinach and sun dried tomatoes.

The new kitchen is great. Its nice to be able to move around with the wheelchair and reach things in the drawers and sink.

28 JAN 2025 - 2.5 Million Stem Cells

Hope Bio comes through again. I’m getting 2.5 million stem cells injected into my spine and bloodstream. These are my own cells that were harvested last year and then cloned at Hope Bio labs in Houston TX. These cells can then replicate and repair muscles, skin, organs or hopefully in this case nerve cells and motor neurons.

At this point I am willing to take all the help I can get. I am starting to lose mobility in my hands and arms now making it difficult to even type this.

06 JAN 2025 - An old ride

I am fortunate to now have Frank's old ride. Its a Dodge caravan with a ramp so I can roll in with an electric wheel chair. Frank is dead now but I have his van and I am grateful for the increase in mobility this setup now offers. When he first left us I said I didnt want the van. I was still in good health. Not now.

At this point I am willing to take all the help I can get. I am starting to lose mobility in my hands and arms now making it difficult to even type this. I am grateful for the help of Victoria and James and his family and much respect to Frank.

This is my new blog. There is so much I have learned in my life so far that I would like to share with you all. Thank you to all my dear friends and family, I love you very much

I have now recently been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - ALS - a rare and fatal neurological disease which really sucks.

Hopefully some of the resources and my experience here might be useful for other people who are suffering from this awful chronic illnesses. The rest is simply an attempt to stay positive in the face of a devastating disease.