Remicade Hope

Hope for Remicade

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A mother with 2 teenage children had been in so much pain from RA that for years she had basically been homebound, dreading any activity that forced her from her home and into more pain. One Saturday, she said to her teenage daughter, "Hey , lets go hang out at the mall". WOW. She couldn't believe the words had come from her mouth. Her daughter stared, dumbfounded.... then grabbed the car keys. This mother had been on Remicade for some period of time and this was a breakthrough moment for her. Suddenly, without warning, she wanted to do something "normal" wtih her daughter. It was the beginning of remission for her.

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Another woman was downstairs in her home and needed something from upstairs. She ran up the stairs, grabbed the item, and ran back down. Then she stopped. How many years had it been since she had done that? Several. Something good was happinening to her body. She also had been on Remicade for a period of time. This was a turning point in her disease process.

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I am basically homebound. I cannot drive more than 1 mile, and then only at certain times of the day because the heavy doeses of pain meds make me a danger to myself and others. Every week, there are more days in bed than out of bed. Even on 60 mg Oxycontin plus breakthrough pain pills, I am in significant pain ALL THE TIME. I have great difficulty breathing and need my oxygen more and more. I can't remember the last time I ran up and down the stairs - but I do remember doing it without a giving it a second thought.

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Today was my 3rd Remicade treatment. I am up to 400 mg per treatment, and my next treatment is 8 weeks from now. If these other women can receive healing then so can I. It will be great day when I say "Amanda, lets go hang out at the mall", or "Michael, let's spend the weekend in the mountains", or "Will, lets go see a movie". Or maybe it will be "Yes, sign me up for that show - I can't wait to go!".