August 9, 2014 I’m still catching up from my time in Moscow!

 I’ve been back home for almost 3 weeks and all is well.  This would have been my last post before the day I left Moscow, but fatigue got the better of me! 

Wanted to share the photo of my jugular catheter insertion site.  It’s so tiny.  Everyone always sees the huge bandaged up tube, but this is how small it really it. Nothing to worry about going in or coming out!  There is mild discomfort upon insertion.  Honest!!!  The day of the photo it was just being cleaned, not coming in or out. The redness on my neck is just from the tape  and covering that is usually on top of it to keep it clean and dry.   I made the photo small so no one would look at it and faint : )

This is Anastasia!  My last hospital payment was delayed because the banks were closed for the July 4th holiday.  Then I went into isolation.  I was not able to make the final payment until I got out of isolation.  Anastasia wheeled me through the underground tunnel and got a great cardio workout!  She was running so fast!  Here she is holding my credit card with my family photo on it : )  I got a capital one credit card with NO foreign transaction fees.  Those fees can add up!

Now, she’s waiting for the payment to be processed.  She is smart, fun, hardworking and always so sweet and helpful!
I am not sure how everything went so smoothly before she was hired in May. She had MS and was treated by Dr. Fedorenko a little over two years ago. Now, she is healthy, happy and does everything she can to help every patient.  

Before we even met, I asked her to translate a tribute to Dr. Fedorenko’s mentor, Dr. Andrew A. Novik.  It was a beautiful tribute, but it was all in Russian.  She and her friends translated the video so quickly! Dr. Novik first performed HSCT on MS patients in 1999.  He was a true pioneer and thought about treating patients and not just their diseases.  For over 35 years, he was able to help many patients and protect them from their inevitable fate of becoming totally disabled.  Dr. Fedorenko has the same philosophy, skills and dedication to his patients as his mentor, Dr. Novik!  He will do whatever he can to help improve the quality of life of his patients.

and she took a photo of the two of us : )

 

I met a lot of really wonderful people when I moved to the 2nd floor.
In this photo:  Brett, Glenn and his wife Penny, Kris, Dr. Fedorenko popped in for the photo, my brother in law, Robert, me, Vicki, Gunn Heidi and Mark,  Vicki’s husband.  It’s hard to tell from the photo who is the patient and who is their loved one who accompanied them to Moscow.

Glenn and his wife, Penny

Vicki and her husband, Mark.

Hatice and Brendan on Brendan’s New Life Birthday!

Chad and Misha!

Brendan the day before I left.
Gave him essentials like a few extra zip locks and all the duct tape I had left before he went to isolation!

 

 

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