Jim, best wishes and congratulations on you continuing improvements. I would
appreciate a copy of your diary.
Thank you,

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-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Finn <[log in to unmask]>
To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Saturday, May 30, 1998 7:55 PM
Subject: "How I'm doing," by Jim Finn


>Group -
>
>Several of you have written to request an update on how I am feeling.  As
most
>of you know, I had the "pig-cell" implant surgery in September of '96.
(For
>new group members who are not familiar with it, please see the note at the
end
>of this posting.)  And, as you know, I have maintained an account of my
>experiences with this highly-experimental xenotransplantation.  The results
>have been posted to this ListServe every 90 days, immediately following the
>quarterly evaluations in Boston.
>
>Each exam has shown improvement over the 1 before it.  All of the
motor-skill
>testing (those timed checks on walking, finger-tapping, hand up/palm up,
etc.)
>indicate on-going enhancement.  The same is true for the ones that are not
>timed, such as balance, rising from a chair, handwriting, and the like.
>
>In spite of such obviously good news, however, I continued to have some
pretty
>rough days.  There were some good days, too.  But about 1 in every 3 or 4
>would take "the wind out of my sails," as they say.  This is not
surprising;
>I've never lost sight of the fact that after 16 years of PD I was
considered
>an "end-case."  To have arrived at this point was rather remarkable.
>
>Over the last 3 weeks, however, there have been what I consider to be
rather
>significant changes.  I have NOT had a single bad day!  It's as if the
whole
>curve has shifted upwards.  Now I'm having pretty good (no, not perfect)
days
>and better (again, not perfect) days.  The dynamics are changing.
>
>I do not know if this will be reflected in the next battery of testing.
That
>will take place in 2 weeks.  Additionally, there is the possibility that
this
>whole thing could be an anomaly; with a big "crash" just over the horizon.
>The thought of it is very frightening.  Finally, we must remember that
>"feeling better" is a highly subjective term.  It is a concept that is
>difficult, at best, to measure scientifically.
>
>So that's the latest.  I'll post another report after the next round of
>examinations.
>
>Jim Finn
>
>Note: As always, to those of you who have not seen my diary, you may
request a
>copy by E-Mail.  Write directly to me; not to the ListServe.