Hi, I'm Barbara and I had umbilical cord stem cell therapy on April 5, 2007 also. This is when I got to meet Jeannine in person and we are now stem cell mates. I have just had my 8 week anniversary and after some very rough spots and too many ups and downs to mention, I am really starting to feel good. I am 57 years old and my FEV1 was 37% last time it was checked in late 2006. I just kept going downhill despite everything I tried. That's when I heard about stem cell therapy from an internet posting and decided to look into it.
I run a non profit bird refuge and love all kinds of animals. I am a vegetarian and I think I have a good sense of humor. I like to read murder mysteries and I like to write. Jeannine and I are writing a book about our experience and hope to finish it soon. This forum was a gift from my son, Darin Johnson, to a group of us that call ourselves the Pioneers. We hope to generate lots of discussion and help people have a place where they are free to express themselves and exchange information on stem cell therapy. The Pioneers are all COPD patients, but this forum is for anyone with interest in stem cell therapy. I personally feel that it is the medicine of the future and for many of us it is the medicine that we have chosen now. We couldn't wait for the future. I have traveled all over the world and I love train trips and cruises the most. I hate to fly now because of all the hassle of taking O2 with me. I am an avid bird watcher and since I don't get enough birding at my own refuge, (that's a joke) most of my trips now are for bird watching in places I can drive. I am currently taking a class in Ornithology from Cornell University. My first love is ducks, but like I said, I enjoy all creatures. My home is completely duckorated. I also like turtles a lot and have a collection of over 5000 (not living) of them from around the world. I have 7 live turtles. In my collection, I have turtle clothes, chairs, shower curtain, cigar cutter, antiques, real turtle fossils, jewelry, ping pong paddles, army helmets, everything I can find that is made to look like a turtle. It takes up the entire basement.
I am happy to answer anyone's questions about my therapy. I feel this week that I have hit another milestone. I have no SOB, I have been running like crazy all week and staying up super late and I feel very good. I am rid of that awful pit in my stomach that used to come as I gasped for air. My lungs are really opening up. I use the Power Lung 2 times a day and I feel that is a huge help. I am no longer watching the clock to take my meds because I am not needing them like I used to. I can easily go several hours past what I used to before needing additional medication. I can walk around without O2 and not get winded. My sats still drop, but not as bad as they used to, so I think that soon I may get the ultimate thrill and not have to use O2 any more. That is what I want so much.
My son Darin went with me when I got the therapy and he has learned a lot about COPD and stem cell therapy. He is my only child. He has a great wife and 2 kids. My husband, Lorin, of 20 years is a little behind in COPD knowledge as this disease hit him as hard as it hit me. What a lifestyle change and little or no hope until I found out about stem cell therapy. I am very glad I had it.