Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - January 2nd through 4th

Hello again,

Wow!!! Only six more days and we are China bound with Tori!! It seems like time is really accelerating on us now. Again, I apologize for the delayed updates lately but it has been quite crazy with trying to get everything ready for the trip itself, keeping Tori healthy and going, doing news interviews and the like and unfortunately, trying to get Tori's passport... I was told today that it was IN THE MAIL and should finally arrive tomorrow though I'll believe it when it is truly in my hands. My visa contact is ready and waiting and she'll have everything done within 24 hours so we should be fine. I'll only feel fine when the all of our passports and visas are in my hands of course!! :-)

Thank you!! Thank you!! and Thank you!! again for all of the supportive verbal and web based comments, email and Donations that have occurred over the past few days!! It is greatly appreciated and we are ever so grateful. The recent news coverage ( Daily Herald , KUTV and KSL 1160 Radio ) about Tori's stem cell treatment and trip has generated alot of interest and awareness. She has many, many more new supporters. I promise I will reply to all of you who have contacted me but please give me a few days to try and catch up :-) There will likely be more articles and stories coming over the weekend and prior to our departure.

Now, moving on to Tori who is still doing well and is thankfully staying healthy. She was very interested in the KUTV crew when they were over at our home and was quite calm and responsive. Today Tori, Maria and Grandma Schmanski travelled up to the PCMC (Primary Children's Medical Center) in Salt Lake City for a baclofen pump refill and phenol injections throughout her upper body. They did put Tori under anesthesia this time and rightly so as they injected into her arms, forearms, shoulders, pectorals and all over her back. Tori could not receive botox injections because it hasn't been 3 months since her last injections. Giving them to her prior to 3 months would be unhealthy and dangerous so we will wait until we return from China to get the botox injections. Usually phenol and botox injections are given in combination but having the phenol injections alone will provide Tori plenty of relief from her spasticity.

In closing tonight I've included some information below from Beike Biotechnology who is providing Tori and many others the stem cell treatments.

Thank you as always for your love, prayers and support.

The Schmanski Family

Our Treatment:

Our treatment approach is a holistic one. We do not only provide patients with stem cell transplants but we also put each patient into a complete rehabilitation program. Typically the treatment includes of four stem cell injections of over 10 million stem cells each over a 20 to 25 day period with rehabilitation 6 days per week. The stem cells are transfused into the patients via the bloodstream (Intravenous Transfusion) and into the Cerebral Spinal Fluid via an Epidural Catheter placed in the lumbar region of the spinal column. With each Stem Cell Transplant we also give the patients a transfusion of Neural Growth Factors to encourage the stem cells to find their targets and transform into new neurons.

In addition we also offer our adult clients the opportunity to have a Bone Marrow Transplant during their stay. This involves removing the patients own bone marrow, culturing, expanding and purifying the stem cells from it and then transfusing it back into the patient. This treatment is optional and does have an additional cost per procedure.

The rehabilitation program consists of a tailored mix of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Acupuncture, Manipulation, ADL (Activities of Daily Life) education and Chinese massage. It is this holistic approach combined with the incredible power of the stem cells that gives our clients the best chance for improvements. Not all of these therapies are right for all patients. An on-site evaluation will be done upon your arrival and at that time you and the rehabilitation specialists will determine what the right mix will be.