Xenotransplants...

Have you heard of XENOTRANSPLANT??

Never heard of it??

According to Wikipedia:

Xenotransplantation is the transplantation of living cells, tissues or organs from one species to another, such as from pigs rabbits to humans. Such cells, tissues or organs are called xenografts or xenotransplants.

If you want to know more about it, google for FCTI or BCRO. It'll explain more on it.

Honestly, I never heard of it before until lil angel came into my life. Yes, not only she shines my world, she also teaches me to understand a lot of science language which I didn't know exists for 26 years of my life.

I was first introduce to it over a year before by lil angel's pediatrician, Dr Lim. He consults us about the procedure and told us that most of Down Syndrome children who went on this procedure shows better improvement. He assured us that this procedure does not give harm to our child. There are only two possible outcomes: either there will be an improvement, or there will be no change in the condition of patient. But one thing that might make us think twice is the cost...which is very costly!! He also gave us a few numbers of parents whom their child went on the procedure so they can share their experience with us and we get the information needed before deciding to proceed or not.

Yes, we did called the parents and they're being so supportive. They kept talking bout their child's improvement and positive development after the injection which makes us decided to give it a try. For the sake of her health, why not? After discussing with  family members we're agreed to proceed on the procedure. Her 1st injection was a terrible experience for me. Thinking of normal injection, with a small needle, yes I can deal with it. But I was totally wrong! If u ever had an experience with epidural, u know how big the needle is! And a dosage of cell is about 10ml and she'd been given 2 dosages of cell for the first injection. Can u imagine seeing your lil ones being hurt and u can't do anything?? Hearing her screaming and crying painfully REALLY hurts me. I remembered the thing that I could only do to calm her down was whispering to her ears with teary eyes "You're a strong girl...Mummy's here with u sayang and mummy loves u so much.." and I kept praying to Allah to lessen her pain. And when it's all done, I whispered to her ear again, "Forgive me sayang, I'm doing all of this for your own good. I want you to have a good life and bright future. I love you." And the same situation happen each and everytime she went on the procedure.

Yesterday was lil angel's 4th xenotransplant stem cell injection. This time she was given FOUR cells; medulla alba, cardiomyoblast, frontal lobe, temporal lobe and thalamus. Four cells going to cause her so much pain. I've set my mind, whatever it is I have to be strong as she needed me so much. We arrived at the clinic around 11.00am and her appointment was on 11.40am. After reading and signing the consent letter, we waited for a while before her name was called by the nurse. Her daddy carried her to the procedure room and I followed behind. I knew I have to be strong but I am not. Hearing her loud painful cry made me teary-eyed. I can't bear seeing her in pain, in fact I kept on asking the nurse "Are we done yet??". Alhamdulillah the procedure went well. She was given a bed for rest while waiting doctor to come and observed her before she can go home but as soon as we're there, she has stopped crying and started playing with her daddy, rolling over the bed, moved her body once I sang her favourite nursery rhymes. She seems totally forgot about her pain. Looking at her beautiful smile and cheerful laugh, I praised to Allah for giving me a strong and tough girl!! 

Alhamdulillah!!

 my lil angel after the injection

 starts playing with daddy...=D

See, the sun that shines my day... Love her so much!!!