STEM CELL THERAPY FOR MY HIP AND KNEE???

Exploring PAIN RELIEF WITHOUT SURGERY in my KNEE and HIP.......

Five years ago I was told I am "a candidate for" a LEFT KNEE replacement.

Last month I was told that I am "a candidate for" a RIGHT HIP replacement.

I'M FALLING APART!!

For the past 5 years, I've been having my knee treated with Orthovisc injections and cortisone shots. So far, so good - until I did a "face plant" in France last September for no reason (nothing broken thankfully) and then fell again this past June (again in France) landing on my hand/fingers, (thankfully nothing broken again - but still "healing"). The most recent "stumble" made me think, when I turned abruptly each time, perhaps my knee gave out. I certainly don't need any broken bones, SOOOOO..... time to explore my options.

Being a real BABY and NOT wanting SURGERY, I decided to explore STEM CELL THERAPY to regrow the cartilage that's wearing away from OSTEOARTHRITIS (hereditary) in both my knee AND hip. Perhaps this would buy me a few years before surgery.......

The INTERNET - what a beautiful thing....... hours and hours and hours of researching and reading and compiling my findings recently, so I could come to a decision about the effectiveness of STEM CELL THERAPY.

This week I attended a STEM CELL SEMINAR, met with my PRIMARY PHYSICIAN to discuss the pros and cons and spoke to a nurse at BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL in Boston. I also had a discussion with a friend's sister who had stem cell injections in her knee - that didn't work.

From what I've read and heard, the younger you are, the more dramatic results you'll probably have, because younger cells replicate faster. Injuries, rather than "wear-and-tear" might show better results too. But that's just what I'm gathering.

Seems that there is not enough "SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE" yet, therefore NOT many MD's are recommending it, but there ARE CLINICAL TRIALS going on. I'm energized by the future of REGENERATIVE MEDICINE and have high hopes for its future use. However, currently STEM CELL THERAPY seems to be administered mostly by Alternative Medicine MDs and Chiropractic offices. Most are using stem cells from AMNIOTIC FLUID, donated by the mother after child delivery - the stem cells being harvested and frozen in a lab for sale to practices who will administer the shot later. Not covered by insurance, I can pay out-of-pocket $3,000 - $5,000 (in the USA) for ONE KNEE with no guarantee of results, IF I want to try it.

If you want to use YOUR OWN STEM CELLS, they must be harvested from your fat cells via liposuction and/or from bone marrow in the hip. These procedures add an element of risk too, of course. And at my older age (64 - ok, is that really possible?!!), they would mix my own stem cells with amniotic stem cells that will multiply faster for the regrowth process. EMBRYONIC stem cell usage is ILLEGAL in the United States, THANKFULLY!!

My knee doesn't have "POTHOLES" to fill, it needs "RESURFACING". Stem cells seem to work best when "filling potholes" for cell regrowth.

The last step in my "research" - I have a call in to my Orthopedic doc at the ROTHMAN INSTITUTE (Dr. Good), asking if he thinks I'm "a candidate for stem cell therapy". Dr. Tucker at ROTHMAN INSTITUTE in Egg Harbor, NJ administers it.

If Dr. Good says I'm too far gone (typically if replacement is recommended or if you are already bone on bone, you are too far gone....), then I guess I'm going to have to "bite the bullet". At his suggestion I would replace the hip first, probably next year.

BUT naturally I will have to coordinate any surgery with my beloved travel schedule..........

JOAN

REMEMBERING MY FRIEND, BETTY ANN

Let me start out by saying that I'm VERY SPIRITUAL. I believe in GOD and ANGELS and our SPECTACULAR, MIRACULOUS, MYSTERIOUS, EVER-PRESENT, RESPONSIVE and GENEROUS UNIVERSE.

I've always had an aversion to "organized religion" for myself, but I totally understand the need and desire and commitment for others to be a part of something that provides not only spiritual comfort, but inspirational readings, music, consistency and a social aspect as well. My HEART and SOUL are FILLED with all of these aspects (ok, maybe not "consistency".......).

I've never read nor studied the BIBLE (nor any other sacred religious book). I've been encouraged to read excerpts through the years and have taken them seriously and am often "moved" by what it says.

All of this is a preface to my short story about a BIBLE reading at a service I attended this week to celebrate the life of my friend, BETTY ANN at the 1-Year Anniversary of her death. BETTY ANN started this family tradition on the 1-Year Anniversary of the death of her son, BART. She wanted a "CELEBRATION" of his life, despite the family's ongoing grief and the hole in her heart that would never, ever heal.

So, this week at the CELEBRATION of BETTY ANN'S LIFE, I was truly moved by a BIBLE passage that was read by her oldest of 4 sons, BRAD (Philippians 4:6-9).  He told us that his Mom repeatedly reminded BRAD of this passage when he needed it most, many years ago.

Interestingly enough, a 11/17/2014 HUFFINGTON POST article points out:

• "According to data released by AMAZON about the most highlighted passage in Kindle ebooks, the most popular passage from the BIBLE is one on reducing anxiety and finding trust in GOD. (Philippians 4:6-7)" 

A few verses longer, here is the passage BRAD read to us, which I DO try to put into practice every day:

• "Don't worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
• And now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me - everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you."

I miss my friend BETTY ANN, one of the smartest and most gutsy women I've known.

JOAN

OUR MORNING (TRUE STORY)

My 12 year old grandniece, GRACE is staying with me for the week to attend CAMP at the local YMCA. Showered, dressed, fed and packed up, GRACE asked to take "the other car" to camp today. Sure. No problem. Of course, CLOVER!!! joins us for the ride each day. The Counselors love to pet her, etc. Normally cars line up and a Counselor checks GRACE in and takes her from the car to her camp group. This morning we arrive to find that check-in is inside (threat of rain) - which means we have to park the car, stand in line and enter the building to check her in. UH OH..... we have CLOVER!!! What do I do? There is NO leash in this car (my bad) and it's far too hot to leave her in the car for even 5 minutes. Time to get creative....... We took GRACE'S TINY bathing suit top and tied it to CLOVER!!!'s collar, to act as a leash. That should work, right? OK - it's unfamiliar territory and CLOVER!!! is not particularly well leash trained yet (clearing my throat - "we're working on it") and she started out like a rocket, pulling on the bathing suit top, stretching it to the max (can you visualize this???). Unable to get her under good control, I decided pretty quickly that this was a bad idea. In addition, I worried about standing in line with all of the kids and adults (CLOVER!!! still jumps on people when she gets excited - We're working on that too.......). Oh my. Back to the car for a PLAN B. Let's untie the bathing suit top from CLOVER!!!'s collar first. Well, at this point, because she had pulled so hard on her "leash", the knot is IMPOSSIBLE to undo. Searching frantically for a sharp object to assist, we came up empty-handed. UGH. Finally, it's 10 min past the drop-off time, so I drive right up to the building, to the "NO PARKING SIGN" and park (RULES BREAKER!!). No one is in line anymore and kids are already dispersing with their Counselors. GRACE ran into the building and brought a Counselor out to the car to have me sign the check-in. Good security there - I like that! It's all good. CLOVER!!! and I are home, the bathing suit knot is now untied (thanks to a Phillips screwdriver) and it's only 9:30 AM. Who needs COFFEE with a start like that, right?!! ENJOY YOUR DAY! JOAN PS Do NOT ask why I didn't get a picture of this!

I BELIEVE IN LIFE BEYOND LIFE

It's long been a belief of mine that our "SOUL", the essence of LIFE is actually a "VIBRATING ENERGY" - vibrating at a frequency that works with our Earthly bodies. Yet when we "DIE", I believe the "SOUL", this "ENERGY", continues on, free from the bounds of the "BODY" and goes on VIBRATING at a slower speed, becoming invisible to the human eye.

When I watched my Mom die, and then a year later my Dad die, and a few years later, my Uncle die, I tried to make sense of where she/he/they went? How could they be here one minute, full of energy and life..... and then in an instant their body became still and their ENERGY, their ESSENCE was gone. As my Dad described it, "POOF! GONE."

Naturally during my grief, I obsessed - trying to come to terms with this whole concept of "here one day and gone the next"........

Although not an original thought I'm sure, a compelling concept came to me a few years ago and I've thought about it quite a bit since - the concept of what JESUS, GOD and/or A UNIVERSAL CONSCIOUSNESS was trying to SHOW us when JESUS died. Where did HE go? When He reappeared, wasn't He showing us, PROVING to us that there is LIFE AFTER DEATH? LIFE AFTER LIFE? PROOF that there is EVERLASTING LIFE? PROOF that we don't just die and cease to exist?

You see, I believe "all of the answers" to life's complex questions are right here in front of us, if we can slow down and ponder, question and open our minds "beyond the box" to find solutions to our Earthly problems, if you know what I mean.

So, back to JESUS, who I absolutely believe existed......

I believe that by coming "back to life", JESUS was showing us - PROVING to us, that our energy, our SOUL doesn't disappear, but it continues to exist. I personally believe JESUS "humanly died" and subsequently vibrated his soul at such a high level that he was able to appear to us in his physical form once again. It looked as if he were still physically alive - we could "SEE" him - but I believe that if we look a little deeper, think outside the box, that JESUS was actually PROVING to us that "life" goes on after death in another form of ENERGY. That our SOUL continues to exist. When he stopped the highest energy of vibration, his Earthly body stopped "living", his energy left the physical body, but the ENERGY/SOUL still existed, now in another form.

Perhaps our loved ones who have passed, really CAN appear to us in the form of a butterfly or other animal. Perhaps at that moment when we feel their presence, they are truly there with us in another form. Perhaps they are vibrating their SOUL energy at such a high level that they are able to "APPEAR" to us in a form that we know about and believe exists - for example a butterfly. If you "FEEL" them in that moment or have a sense that they are communicating with you, I believe they are.

Perhaps their ENERGY can move objects as well - push a feather in your path or a penny or a dime........ Perhaps their ENERGY can mess with your mechanical or electrical items to give you a SIGN that they are there with you.

Many scholars contemplated and studied "energy" through the years. Naturally you've heard "the first law of thermodyamics" - "Energy is neither created nor destroyed".  Here is the definition I found on a Google search -

"The first law of thermodynamics, also known as Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; energy can only be transferred or changed from one form to another. For example, turning on a light would seem to produce energy; however, it is electrical energy that is converted."

So, doesn't it make perfect sense that we continue to exist as "ENERGY" in a different form after we die?

I don't even question this concept anymore. To me, it just "IS". But it continues to astound me to think about the change from Earthly existence to simply "SOUL ENERGY". Human comprehension is limited, right?

JOAN
PS As I was proofing and making changes to this Blog post, I was also boiling eggs for deviled eggs. I was interrupted from proofing when it was time to run cold water over the eggs. As I stood at the sink, I looked out my window and saw THE BLUE HERON, who I see walking in the creek about 1-3 times a year, always when I'm thinking "spiritually". You see, I believe my sister's deceased husband says "Hello" from time to time via THE BLUE HERON, his favorite bird. Today I truly believe that he appeared to confirm the thoughts that I shared in this Blog post.......

BOOK - "A MAN CALLED OVE" by FREDRIK BACKMAN (NO SPOILERS!!)

Every so often a book comes along that makes me GIGGLE - and actually "Giggle Out Loud". (GOL??)

"A MAN CALLED OVE" by Fredrik Backman was just the right book for me to read this week. After attempting to read a non-fiction book about war (that I just couldn't finish), then the tragic event in Nice, France and then a frightening military coup attempt in Turkey last night, I was happy to get lost in a book that made me GIGGLE. (GOL)

What a misinterpreted, grumpy old man he was (Old? YIKES, he was only 59!). I LOVED the way he fell in love with his wife when he laid eyes on her. And the quirky way he showed her he was interested. I LOVE that he LOVED her so, so much. I LOVED that the author made them so believably different from each other. And I loved the other characters and how they each interacted with OVE and he with them. 

Set in Sweden, the writing style is easy and the chapters are short. (I really like when chapters are short - probably because I feel "accomplished" when I end one chapter and start the next.) I found humor in the simple drawing at the top of each chapter. (Didn't notice it until Chapter 4, but from then I looked forward to what would be next.)

It's a VERY popular book with BOOK CLUBS right now. I imagine there will be a lot of discussion when we meet next week (and again for another BOOK CLUB later this year). BOOK CLUB discussions expand my thinking, will often shift my opinion about a book or will transform my judgement to view something differently than when I first read it.

It's a simple, heartwarming book. When reading the following passages, tell me you don't GOL just a little (come on, at least a little smile?). Feels good to GOL, doesn't it?

Page 57

"The first time the doorbell goes he assumes he's made a mistake and ignores the sound for that very reason. The second time he realizes that there's actually someone ringing the bell, and he ignores it for that very reason."

Page 79

"And so it turned out that Ove became a night cleaner instead. And if this hadn't happened, he would never have come off his shift that morning and caught sight of her. With those red shoes and the gold brooch and all her burnished brown hair. And that laughter of hers, which, for the rest of his life, would make him feel as if someone was running around barefoot on the inside of his breast."

Page 128

"He had never been spontaneous before in his life. But when he saw her it was as if something malfunctioned."

Page 140

"Ove always had a clear travel strategy. His wife, on the other hand, always came up with insanities like "going by a sense of feel" and "taking it easy." As if that was a way for an adult person to get anywhere in life. And then she always remembered that she had to make a call or had forgotten some scarf or other. Or she didn't know which coat to pack at the last moment. Or something else. She always forgot the thermos of coffee on the draining board, which was actually the only important thing. There were four coats in those damned bags but no coffee....."

JOAN

MY BUTTERFLY STORY

Before my MOM died (1999) we knew she was terminal. Thankfully we had 2.5 years to prepare (but can one ever be prepared when the time comes?). 

Nine months before she died, MOM and I went to France together. We had always planned to travel together after my DAD died, who with his multiple health problems, we felt certain would go first. We had a beautiful time in France and created memories that will last my lifetime.

Shortly before we left for France, I had to put my first dog, NIKKI to sleep (almost 13). It broke my heart. She and I had had such a deep, loving connection. She taught me about communicating on a higher level, since we had 2 different Earth Languages. She also taught be about unconditional love - an "Introductory Course" that I've chosen to repeat over and over again...... now with my 7th German Shepherd Dog. My deep love for NIKKI made it terribly difficult to say goodbye. Looking back on it, I believe it was part of the "Grand Plan" to help me to prepare for saying goodbye to MOM - proving to me that life does go on after we lose a loved one.........  

FIVE MONTHS after NIKKI died, my second dog, PEPPER died suddenly from a blood cancer. FIVE MONTHS later, my MOM died. FIVE MONTHS later, my DAD was diagnosed with terminal cancer and 8 months later he passed. An emotionally charged couple of years.

PEPPER was recovering from surgery to stop some internal bleeding from earlier that month. The vet told me that she was on "borrowed time" - weeks to months. The night that she died, I was sitting on the floor in the 2nd bedroom doing some filing. PEPPER walked past the door to the room, looked in at me and walked away as I heard her say "IT'S TIME". PEPPER literally communicated that to me. I raced down the stairs to her as she was then swaying and stumbling, picked her up (70 pounds) and carried her down outdoor steps to the car (had to be "super-human strength"). She died on the way to the vet hospital.

Ok, that is all background info for my BUTTERFLY STORY........

Before my MOM died she said she would communicate with me from "the other side" but since she didn't know how it was going to work, I was to PAY ATTENTION. 

MOM died in June 1999 and I had 2 dogs at the time - CINDER and CURRY. CURRY was just a puppy - only a few weeks before she died, MOM came up with the name. The Mommy's name was SPICE so I needed a "Spice" name........ 

In early July, my 2 sisters and I were returning to Florida to help my DAD go through MOM's things. Naturally my senses and emotions were heightened. I was outside with the dogs before leaving for the airport when I saw a large, BLACK BUTTERFLY flying around them. And it kept flying and circling each dog - circling one dog and then the other. I thought about how strange it was for a butterfly to hang around for that long. That's all I was thinking at the moment, but it DID catch and hold my attention.  

On my way to the airport I broke down in tears, because it "came to me" that the BUTTERFLY was my mom's way of telling me to think of the dogs and also think of her and put two and two together - it was her way of telling me that she was united with my 2 dogs, NIKKI and PEPPER. They were all together and all was ok. What a validation of life after death! I was certain of the message and comforted.  

I do believe that our "SPIRIT" has great powers and perhaps even more so after this lifetime when we reconnect with the universal consciousness and gain greater understanding of our powers. I firmly believe that if we as humans just pay attention, listen and remain open to messages from those who have passed, they will know when we need something and will figure out a way to communicate with us. Validation that they are still with us on a higher level.

JOAN

A NEW VAN GOGH PAINTING TO ME

Agostina Segatori Sitting in the Café du Tambourin

On display at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

In my research on Paris I found something interesting this morning about my favorite artist, VINCENT VAN GOGH and this painting, which I don't remember ever seeing before. This weekend, when in PARIS, I hope to visit the location of the Cafe du Tambourin and also Vincent's residence in Montmartre with his brother Theo when they were both single (1886-1888).  Both locations are right around the corner from the Montmartre Cemetery where we are planning to visit DEGAS's resting place.

Extracted from Wikipedia - 

"In the painting Agostina, a woman in her forties, can be seen smoking a cigarette while having her second glass of beer, evidenced by two saucers under the mug of beer. In demeanor and style, such as her clothing, make-up and hairstyle, she is a modern woman. She is wearing a fashionable hat. According to the style at the time, her jacket is a different design than her dress. A parasol sits on one of the seats next to her.

Previously an artist's model to Manet, Corot and others, the Naples-born Agostina saved the money she earned working as a model and opened the Italian-themed Café du Tambourin in 1885, which particularly catered to artists.

In 1887 Van Gogh had several meals a week at the café which were paid in paintings to adorn the restaurant's walls. He fell in love with Agostina who was twelve years older and carried on a 6-month affair with her. It didn't end well, but for a time, he brought her paintings of flowers and Japanese print copies as tokens of affection. You can see them on the wall behind her. Soon after, though, Agostina and the establishment fell on hard times. She became ill and the business, in debt and likely involved in illegal prostitution, failed. Although assured by Agostina that Van Gogh could claim his paintings, according to Émile Bernard's recollection, debtors sold his paintings "as waste canvas" in batches of 10, ranging in price from 50 centimes ($1.10 today) to one franc ($2.19 today) per bundle. Due to the bankruptcy of the cafe Van Gogh lost not only the paintings, mostly still life works of flowers, but also the frames."

JOAN

ANDREW WYETH STUDIO TOUR

A tour of ANDREW WYETH's STUDIO is always available through the BRANDYWINE RIVER MUSEUM. During the month of April, every Friday, a visiting artist demonstrated the use of egg in tempera paint as part of the tour. THAT sounded like a nice addition, so when I asked around who wanted to join me, MERRY and LAURIE were as excited as I was. (We had a bite to eat at HANK'S PLACE across the street (ALWAYS delicious) before our tour.)

We got on a shuttle bus at the BRANDYWINE RIVER MUSEUM and it was only a stone's throw away - a white building that ANDREW grew up in, that later became his studio.

The KITCHEN is as it was when he and his family lived there.

The ENTRYWAY and HALLWAYS are filled with family photos and artwork.

His LIBRARY housed interesting BOOKS and PANORAMAS and his COLLECTION of ARMY SOLDIERS and EQUIPMENT filled a full cabinet.

ANDREW WYETH'S ACTUAL STUDIO literally took my breath away. It was just as it should be. A windowsill lined with jars of pigments. Preliminary drawings and paintings everywhere.  Lots of light coming into the room from TALL WINDOWS, with light from the NORTH.

Practice DRAWINGS everywhere........

Preliminary PAINTINGS ready to be worked into a larger PAINTING.

ANDREW's talented artist son, JAMIE had a section of one large room all to himself. (Yes, that's ME in the mirror - HA!)

The visiting artist shared with us the secrets of the EGG TEMPERA PAINT method.

Beautiful views of the OTHER BUILDINGS on the property from inside.......

If you enjoy the WYETH FAMILY ART and have an opportunity to take this extraordinary tour of our CHESTER COUNTY ARTIST'S STUDIO, you certainly won't be disappointed.


JOAN

BOTTLING WINE IN THE STREET!!!

Here we are - still in the fabulous ALSACE WINE ROUTE town of EGUISHEIM, FRANCE. Wandering the side streets LINDA and ANDY SMITH and I happened upon the most interesting moment. They were bottling and stacking WHITE WINE, right in the street.  

I was captivated - they had to tear me away from watching the goings on......

Enjoy this wonderful video to bring you up close and personal to this bottling event.....

Walking a little further, we found a tiny cheese shop on the left side of the lane. We totally enjoyed taking our time choosing some meat and cheese for a snack during the rest of our walk through EGUISHEIM,

Did you feel like you were right there with me??

JOAN

PS - I was traveling with my close friends, LINDA and ANDY SMITH.  ANDY is a professional watercolorist - you might enjoy looking at or even OWNING one of his paintings.  He also can be commissioned to paint one of your photographs, your home, a favorite place, etc.  CLICK ON THIS for his website.

EGUISHEIM, FRANCE (ALSACE WINE ROUTE)

Last year in June, the first town that we stopped at on the ALSACE WINE ROUTE, was EGUISHEIM, FRANCE.  It captured my heart!  The flowers....... the architecture...... the wine bottling right in the street..........  

YOU tell ME..... Is this a wonderful town or what??!!

And how about the STORK NESTS at the top of the buildings?  

Is that really "where babies come from"?

Naturally we had to stop for a little bite.  OK, we had to stop for some CHOCOLATE - HOT CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE CROISSANTS....... etc.

My NEXT BLOG POST will feature a video of WINE-BOTTLING in the street and another little surprise.....  TUNE IN!!

JOAN