February 2018
JOURNAL L ife A fter a S troke Michael Bragg’s Journey and Renewed Hope
I had a stroke 10 years ago. I was 43 years old and kept up an active lifestyle. I was the type of person who was always doing something. I had Mud Runs under my belt and had even biked 100 miles in a single day. You wouldn’t have necessarily pegged me as someone at risk for a stroke. Of course, you could say that about most people who end up having a stroke. but after a stroke, it becomes even more complicated. The stroke caused the right side of my body to become numb. I had almost no feeling and very limited function on that half of my body. So, I had to learn to do just about everything with my left hand. Years later, I ran across an ad for NSI Stem Cell on Facebook. It caught my attention and I started doing more research. Before seeing the ad, I knew nothing about stem cells or related therapy. The more I learned, the more intrigued I became. Finally, there seemed to be real hope for my condition. I also learned I was diabetic. Managing diabetes can be a challenge in general,
Last year, I met Dr. Eric Edgerton and Dr. Vincent Depasquale at the premier of Charles Mattocks’ new show, “Reversed,” which aired on the Discovery Life channel. The show follows the lives of diabetics around the world. Meeting with the doctors was another eye-opening experience, both at the premier and at the clinic. The science and technology behind stem cell therapy, as well as behind PRP (platelet rich plasma) therapy, is simply incredible. I began therapy last fall. Since then, I have noticed improvement on my weak side, but most notably, I have experienced movement in my right thumb. This is huge step forward — especially considering that 10 years have passed. Generally, people see the most improvement in motor skills earlier on. This gives me much more hope for the months and years to come. And already, since meeting Dr. Eric and the team at NSI, I have more hope for recovery than ever before. When I began therapy, Dr. Eric helped get me excited and energized about the future. Healing will take time, but I’m happy with what I have accomplished so far. I’m looking forward to what happens next. And I’m looking forward to getting my story out there and spreading the word on stem cell therapy.
I have gotten more active recently.
There’s a certain mental aspect to the therapy that goes beyond the therapy itself. When you notice improvements, even if they seem minor, you know the therapy is working. It’s a wonderful feeling to know your body is healing. Improvement gives you hope. Hope, in turn, gives you energy. I can’t wait to do more and to break through the limitations I’ve lived with for the last several years. This technology is awesome. I can’t say enough about the team at NSI who made this possible. Through Dr. Eric, the nurses, assistants, and staff, I was left with something truly incredible.
–Michael Bragg
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BE SOCIAL MEDIA SAVVY AND S tay C onnected
It’s time to break the bad news to your grandkids: Social media isn’t just for them. A study from the Pew Research Center found that 47 percent of baby boomers are using social media. Facebook in particular proves to be an excellent resource for adults moving through the later stages of life. This social media platform helps keep you in touch with friends, family members who live far away, and workplace
acquaintances who you don’t see during retirement. Social media can help you gather the people you want to keep in contact with in one centralized location. Here are a few things to remember for keeping your digital friendships enjoyable. Social Media Isn’t a Diary No one wants to see a feed clogged with posts from the same person. Your friends might like reading about exciting vacations or days with the grandkids, but they don’t need updates about your wait in line at the grocery store. Sharing TMI (too much information) will put you on the fast track to losing friends. It’s Okay to Hit Unfriend Likewise, if you find yourself sick of Judy’s moment-by- moment updates of her dog’s kidney stone, feel free to cut ties. That might entail unfollowing (you remain friends,
but no longer see their posts in your feed), unfriending, or blocking a person entirely. There’s no reason to keep in touch with someone whose very profile picture makes you angry. Check a Source Before Sharing Just because something is online, that doesn’t make it true. It’s just as easy for someone to post a lie about a celebrity or politician as it is for Judy to post about her dog. If you read a news story that gets a rise out of you, double check the facts before you hit share. Googling the article’s claims and main points will bring up similar articles — if those claims are true. This will help you determine if it’s breaking news or a big hoax.
Just 10 years ago, snail mail and expensive long-distance calls were the only way to keep in touch with the people we couldn’t see every day. Thanks to social media, we can stay connected to our loved ones around the world. Now that’s something that deserves a like. RELIEF FROMDIABETES
J ackie ’ s R enewed O utlook on L ife
After seeing an article about NSI’s treatment for diabetes, I was intrigued. I sat on it for a week then decided to look into it a little more. I was a little skeptical at first, because nothing ever worked [in the past]. I didn’t want to do chemicals or pills. The pills have always made me loopy, and I don’t want to be loopy. I don’t want to feel any pain. I want to do natural things. So, I was a little skeptical, but also quite interested.
In the beginning, when I came to NSI, my A1C for my diabetes was 10. I wasn’t happy and the doctor wasn’t happy, so
I said, “Okay, let’s do this.” As time went on, it came down — 7.4 was the next one, and then recently, 6.2. It was never 6.2! This was the first time ever! I wanted to be healthier, have energy, and be hopping and bopping in whatever I do. I have been moving more than I had. When you’re in pain, what do you do? You stop. And then, you get worse! So, I’ve been moving a lot, and I’m happy. –Jackie Howard
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A Closer Look at Asthma and COPD U nderstanding R espiratory D isease
Though there is a medical difference between asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the symptoms can be strikingly similar. Generally, the first symptom a person notices is shortness of breath. But airway hyper- responsiveness is another common symptom that shows up early in COPD as well as asthma. Airway hyper-responsiveness is a condition in which the airways become highly sensitive to chemical inhalants and other airborne particles. Comorbidities are traits that are also frequently shared between COPD and asthma. A comorbidity is an illness or condition that develops in addition to the chief disease. Here are some comorbidities regularly shared by asthma and COPD.
precautions to avoid them. Developing a good awareness of personal breathing patterns in order to be aware of how well your daily medication is working and to quickly recognize the onset of an asthma attack is also critical.
Here are some medically based treatments for asthma.
• Allergy medication • Allergy shots (immunotherapy) • Bronchial thermoplasty • Bronchodilators
• Inhalers • Oral and intravenous corticosteroids • Stem cell therapy
Another difference between asthma and COPD is that COPD is progressive and lifelong, while asthma is not necessarily so. Childhood asthma may go away over time, though most people who have asthma will need to manage it throughout their lives. Whether the diagnosis is for COPD or asthma, the goal of any treatment is the management of symptoms in order to help the patient live an active and healthy life. Likewise, treatment should also aim to keep the disease from worsening. Next month, in our final examination of asthma and COPD, we will discuss effective ways people are treating these conditions.
• High blood pressure • Impaired mobility
• Migraine • Depression • Stomach ulcers • Cancer
• Insomnia • Sinusitis
Both COPD and asthma are long-term medical conditions. As with COPD, asthma is manageable with the right therapy or treatment. But the difference between asthma and COPD requires approaches that are specific to each disease.
Among the treatments for asthma is to educate the patient on how to recognize asthmatic triggers and how to take
SWEET AND ZESTY DETOX SALAD
Ingredients
For the Salad •
3 cups chopped kale leaves 2 cups chopped broccoli florets 2 cups chopped red cabbage 1 cup matchstick carrots 1 cup chopped cilantro 1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds 1/3 cup sliced green onions
For the Dressing •
• • • • •
1 large carrot, roughly chopped 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger
• • • • • • •
• •
1 tablespoon honey
1 diced avocado
1 tablespoon white miso 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
1. To make the salad, add all ingredients to a large bowl; toss to combine. 2. To make the dressing, add all
smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper or add extra honey for a sweeter taste. 3. Drizzle dressing over salad and serve immediately.
ingredients to a blender or food processor. Pulse until
Recipe inspired by GimmeSomeOven.com.
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THE CLEARWATER LOCATION IS MOVING! Beginning Dec. 4, 2017, we will start seeing patients at our new location 29750 US HWY 19N STE 101 Clearwater, FL 33761
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
29901 US-19 Clearwater, FL 33761 www.nsistemcell.com 877-278-3623
INSIDE This Issue
Life After a Stroke: A Patient’s Journey Page 1
Are You Committing a Facebook Faux Pas? Jackie Finds Relief From Diabetes Page 2 A Closer Look at Asthma and COPD Whip Up This Winter Salad in a Flash! Page 3
The Most Romantic Destinations on Earth Page 4
V alentine ’ s G etaways
THE BEST
romance novelist’s imagination. You and your partner can kick back on a balcony overlooking the entirety of this seaside town, taking in the century-old multicolored Italian architecture perched precariously on the verdant mountainside. Too small to accommodate swarms of tourists, it’s the perfect place to while away the hours ambling from shop to shop, sampling the delicious local cuisine, and maybe taking a dip along the 300-meter beach. The Maldives From a water villa smack dab in the midst of the glassy, ultra-blue Indian Ocean, you and your main squeeze can enjoy utter seclusion. Sip champagne in the shade of a palm overlooking an otherworldly sunset or get a little more adventurous, strap on a mask, and check out the abundant aquatic wildlife. Many hotels in the area even include access to an array of boats, perfect for your own private excursion along the mild waves. Of course, you could also always just stare, dumbfounded, into the horizon, wondering how such a place could actually exist on Earth. TO FANTASIZE ABOUT
Valentine’s Day is for fancy dinners, heart-shaped boxes packed with subpar chocolates, and fantasizing about the magical places you and your beau would have escaped to — if only you had the PTO. So, grab a glass of bottom-shelf cab sauv, cuddle up next to your special someone, and try to make them feel bad for taking you to Chili’s instead of whisking you away to one of these picturesque fantasy lands. Udaipur, India These days, meandering through the cobblestone streets of Paris with your loved one is très passé. All the real high-rolling romantics are migrating southeast to the famous Oberoi Udaivilas hotel in western India. Set in a traditional Mewari palace, visitors will feel like royalty as they stroll around the labyrinthine gardens that surround the elaborate cream- colored structure. Travelers can relax beside one of the many glassy pools sprinkled throughout the estate, all of which are enthusiastically attended by an unparalleled service staff. Positano, Italy
More than perhaps anywhere in the world, this place looks like it was lifted straight from a sappy
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