Are you or a loved one interested in receiving stem cell treatment? For free treatment information, please fill out our treatment form or email me don@repairstemcells.org and just put TREATMENT in the subject box.

Trouble With Doctors In Australia

A mother of a young boy with congestive heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy in Australia illustrates that stem cell research ignorance is not limited to only the United States.  In the latest Repair Stem Cell Institute's newsletter, Michaela writes how the doctors (cardiologists)  in Australia have mistreated her son Lee, 16,  and ridiculed the adult stem cell treatment that has already improved Lee's condition greatly.

Adult Stem Cell Therapy Ridiculed

Lee went to Thailand in February 2009 and was treated with his own adult stem cells taken from his blood.  The stem cells were injected into Lee's heart for his congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy.  The therapy has helped Lee and at this time, he is living life like a normal child. 

This is from Michaela (Lee's mother):

For many years I'd taken note of the progress with stem cell research believing this was the road I'd take for Lee but I had no idea it was already being done overseas. If I had known, I would have sought help sooner.  
 
There is very little info being put out in Australia and the Doc's do a great job of dismissing what is there as fantasy. The treatment we have received from the Medical Profession is unbelievable! I have been ridiculed, portrayed as a bad mother and have been threatened with treatment being withheld for Lee if I continued to believe in the ability of stem cells and didn't consent to transplant.

I now take a representative from the Consumer Health Advocate org with me to each appointment just to keep things civil. Lee wasn't born with the condition Dilated Cardiomyopathy, corrective surgeries for Aortic Stenosis is to blame. His case has been one “stuff-up” after another and they'd like nothing more than to sweep him under the carpet and I feel transplant was how they planned to do this. They left him for 11 years with no attempt to fix his valves knowing the heart couldn't continue to work at that rate. 

So far, I haven't put Lee forward as an advocate for stem cell therapy in Australia. I've posted the odd thing on Facebook groups but mostly I have kept quiet. I've just sat back watching him go from strength to strength praying for the day I can put him out there as proof that this is the future in medicine. Lee's heart is still way too big and his EF is low, on paper he's in a bad way. I'm in regular contact with the surgeon Dr Permyos and he has a strong belief that Lee will be successful.

When you get to end stage Congestive Heart Failure you don't have reductions in heart size & BNP and your dependancy on Lasix increases, it doesn't cease. He no longer suffers shortness of breath or palpitations and he plays Squash for school sport. Something is at work David and it's more than wishful thinking! If you think Lee's case may give hope to someone else than I'm prepared to provide you with any info you need. I know Lee was the first child treated for heart failure, maybe others might consider the surgery for their child rather than take the dreaded transplant alternative. I'm so glad I took the chance with stem cell therapy and I'll do it again if I have to. Lee would not be alive and living an active life without it!

Mother Takes Control Of Son's Health Care

Earlier, Michaela had written to Dr. Davis at the Heart Scan Blog  (I slightly changed the title of his post for this post) bemoaning Australia's cardiologists for being uninformed on the issue of nutritional supplements (in particular Vitamin D)  and stem cell research. Most importantly, she reports that her son Lee is doing better thanks to the adult stem cells.  Here is her letter from the Heart Scan Blog :

Hi Dr Davis,

I wrote to you back in July regarding my 15 year old son's need for a Heart Transplant through a failed Ross Repair and the possible Vitamin D connection. You sent me some valuable links and I thank you again for that.

I just wanted to let you know, I think you have given me the answers. I increased Lee's Vitamin D supplement to 6000U a day and, along with the recommended nutritional supplements of US Cardiologist Dr Stephen T Sinatra, there have been remarkable improvements! Lee also had 70 million of his own Adult Stem Cells injected into his heart in February. As we know, Stem Cell Therapy takes time and Lee was looking like time was quickly running out.

I have removed him from the transplant list. He is now reading normal Kidney function, the BNP (Brain Natriuretic Peptide, a measure of heart failure] has dropped by 7000 and his liver size has reduced to where it no longer causes him discomfort. The liver tests show it's still affected but it's function is improving each month. His last Echo was in early July and there had been a reduction in the size of his heart, which is so important.

To the Doc's, Lee can't get better, there is only transplant or death so you can imagine the surprise on their faces to see him looking and feeling so well with their tests to back it up. Still, even though it's staring them in the face, they don't want to know about it. They have no interest in what supplements he is on or Stem Cell therapy. God help their other patients. I view them in the waiting room and think of them as lambs to the slaughter.

We are not spoiled for choice with Doc's here in Western Australia. I have to take what I can get and there is not many who would take on Lee's case. He was number 1 on the transplant list and a most urgent case. Not many were willing to even look at him with his cardiac history and all I had to help was the arrogant Doc's at the Advanced Heart Failure Unit. They were not at all interested in his secondary hyperparathyroidism. I suppose it didn't matter what else he had compared to his heart problems.

Anyway, I'm writing to thank you. Lee would be transplanted or dead now if it wasn't for Dr's like you sharing their knowledge online. I wish I had researched things years ago, Lee might not have sunk so low if I had. I don't know if the transplant can be held off indefinitely, but like I tell Lee, "Stay well. There are amazing people out there doing amazing things, if you can just hang on. The miracle is around the corner." He's so well, you'd have to see him to believe it. But I have 7 kids and Lee is as physically active and as well as the other 6! For how long he can stay like this, I don't know but if his ejection fraction [a measure of left ventricular strength] can keep climbing and his body gets stronger, I have hope for another attempt at valve replacement.

I'm still shocked and angry that nutritional supplements have never been mentioned in the 15 years I've been dealing with cardiologists. Surely they know about them. I have read through dozens of reports online of the benefits of them--Why haven't they?! Thank God for the online Doc's such as yourself, the valuable info would never make it out of a Doctor's office in Western Australia! I've had to leave my country for Stem Cell therapy and then implore overseas Doc's for advice and information. What does that say for the Australian Medical Profession? Not a lot! They put him in the position he is in yet don't want to help get him out.

I'm so very grateful to you, thank you and God bless.

Michaela

Taking Control Of Your Own Health

Michaela and Lee still face a long battle as though the stem cells have helped Lee tremendously, he is still far from perfectly healthy.  However, it is unfortunate that their battles have been with the doctors, rather than concentrating on Lee's heart.  I imagine there are many of you out there who face similar battles with your doctors who tell you to wait for the long term studies on adult stem cells to be done.  Unfortunately, many of us won't be alive to see the long term results of studies that haven't even started yet.  Do your own research - similar to what Michaela has done.  Be proactive and take control of your health- decide what is right for you. These days, with the internet, all the information is at our fingertips. 

Are you or a loved one interested in receiving stem cell treatment? For free treatment information, please fill out our treatment form or email me don@repairstemcells.org and just put TREATMENT in the subject box.

Stem Cell Research Now Helping Dilated Cardiomyopathy!

Stem Cell Research continues to show that Adult Stem Cells can help Dilated Cardiomyopathy patients. Before Adult Stem Cell treatment, there really was no treatment for cardiomyopathy, just a drug regimen to minimize the symptoms of the dreaded heart disease eventually resulting in congestive heart failure and then a heart transplant or death.

Adult Stem Cells Giving Hope

Adult Stem Cell research has given us new hope. Patients like Leonard Narracci are living examples of how this new stem cell therapy can help. Leonard previously wrote me and informed me of his stem cell treatment for his cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure on October 8th, 2008. He reported that 7 weeks after his treatment, his ejection fraction (a measure of the heart's pumping ability) had gone from 18% all the way to 33%.  Not only that, he had  renewed energy and sense of well-being that he had not experienced in 3 years!

That was in December- 3 months after the stem cell research had worked its magic on Leonard.  Now, more than 6 months after the adult stem cells were implanted, Leonard has more good news.

6 Months After Stem Cell Treatment- Good News!

His ejection fraction has gone up from 18% before treatment to 51% 6 months post stem cell treatment.

From the stem cell press release:

It goes against traditional theory that we should try to fix damaged heart muscle, but we are generating new heart tissue with impressive results that improve cardiac function and quality of life,” said Dr. Leonel Fernandez Liriano, Professor of Medicine at Pontifical Catholic University School of Medicine (PCUSM), and the head of the cardiology team that treated the patient with adult stem cells.

Grekos states, “After comparing this patient’s echocardiogram and MUGA nuclear scans before and after treatment, we are very pleased to see a profound increase in cardiac function.”

More on Stem Cell Research for Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Good to hear from Leonard again.  We also covered 2 other dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure patients who are doing well after adult stem cell therapy- Mike Rumble and Dan Jackson.

Are you or a loved one interested in receiving stem cell treatment? For free treatment information, please fill out our treatment form or email me don@repairstemcells.org and just put TREATMENT in the subject box.

Stem Cell Research Trial Results for Heart Disease Patients

Dr. Amit Patel of the University of Utah is reporting that 3 out of 3 heart disease patients have improved in the initial stages of his stem cell research trial in which the cardiomyopathy patients had their own Adult Stem Cells injected back into their heart in a minimally invasive surgical procedure.

Dr. Patel presented the initial data at the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) annual meeting in San Diego, California.  The clinical research trial is treating heart patients with both ischemic cardiomyopathy and non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and then injecting them with their own Adult Stem Cells.  There is a control group in the study as well. Translation-  some patients are not getting the benefit of the stem cells and receive a placebo.

Initial Data of Patients Treated with Adult Stem Cells

Here are the results so far (from the stem cell article)-

• 3 cardiomyopathy patients who received their own stem cells were followed up at 3 months.  They all improved on their New York Heart Failure Classes- all 3 going from a Class III to a Class II.  In contrast 2 out of the 3 who didn't get stem cells , did NOT improve.


• Overall quality of life scores (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire) improved in all 3 patients who received the stem cell therapy.  The physical and emotional well-being of all the patients who received the treatment also improved.  There was no consistent trend in the control group (the group that didn't get the stem cells)

Millions Would Benefit With Use of Own Stem Cells

While these are positive results and I am happy for these patients, there are thousands of cardiomyopathy patients who are not able to receive this stem cell treatment.  Dr. Kit Arom of Vescell in Thailand, a former associate of Dr. Patel, is now treating these exact same patients with their own stem cells and none of these dilated cardiomyopathy and heart attack patients are in a "control" group ie. they are getting the exact same procedure and getting their own Adult Stem Cells that Dr. Patel's trial is doing (sucessfully).

Dr. Kit Arom has been treating heart disease patients in Thailand since 2005 with this exact same procedure- and the USA has just done 3??? Is something wrong here?

The Debate on Stem Cell Research - A Smokescreen?

While there is the endless debate on Embryonic Stem Cell research vs. Adult Stem Cell research, is the debate just some  clever smokescreen thrown up by the drug companies, FDA, and cardiologists, none of whom will benefit from heart (or name your disease)  patients using their own Adult Stem Cells to help themselves?

I'm sure the heart patients are pleased that instead of getting short of breath from getting the mail, that they are probably now able to walk around their local mall with their loved ones.

Here is an an American patient driven movement for the use of their own stem cells

And for you American doctors - here is the doctor  stem cell movement

Are you or a loved one interested in receiving stem cell treatment? For free treatment information, please fill out our treatment form or email me don@repairstemcells.org and just put TREATMENT in the subject box.

Stem Cell Research and Therapy for Cardiomyopathy

Adult Stem Cell research has performed another miracle and it is fitting that it is a Reverend who has been helped this time for his dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. Reverend Dan Jackson, of Colorado has reported that his ejection fraction has more than doubled after a stem cell treatment using his own Adult Stem Cells.

When Dan's dilated cardiomyopathy caused his ejection fraction to drop to 21% and into congestive heart failure, he knew he was in trouble. His son Duke took to the internet to find help.

Vescell Adult Stem Cells for Heart Disease

That was when he found Vescell Adult Stem Cells, by Theravitae. Theravitae uses the patient's own stem cells to treat heart disease and peripheral artery disease. However, money was an issue. Duke helped take care of that by having multiple fundraisers to help fund the stem cell treatment.

Dan and his wife traveled to Thailand in November for his stem cell therapy in which he had his own Adult Stem Cells injected into his heart muscle.

Before the Adult Stem Cells

• Ejection Fraction at 21%

After Vescell Stem Cell Therapy

• Ejection Fraction at 50%

Dan says in this cardiomyopathy article -“This should do my heart good for some years; it’s not just a short-term fix,” Jackson said. “My life is in God’s hands. That’s who we’re trusting for our next life. We’re thankful for what the doctors can do, but above and beyond that, God takes charge.”

“They consider this operation very successful,” he said. “I was leery about it, but I’m glad I did it. I am planning to be around here for a long time, the Lord willing. We’ve got things to do. I love my work at the prison as a chaplain. I also love spending time with my grandkids.

Second Chaplain Treated With His Own Stem Cells for Dilated Cardiomyopathy

This is hard to believe, but Dan Jackson is not the first Chaplain to come to Thailand and be helped by VesCell Stem Cell therapy for his Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Reverend Mike Rumble, from Florida, who I covered last month and in December 2008, also went to Thailand and was treated with Vescell. Mike's ejection fraction went up from 10% to 30% after having his own Adult Stem Cells injected into his heart.

Are you or a loved one interested in receiving stem cell treatment? For free treatment information, please fill out our treatment form or email me don@repairstemcells.org and just put TREATMENT in the subject box.

Stem Cell Research and Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure

Stem Cell research has produced another miracle in the form of Adult Stem Cells. Mike Rumble, a dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure patient from Florida  is now reporting his ejection fraction has tripled after receiving stem cell therapy in the form of his own Adult Stem Cells.

I first featured Mike here in December 2008, Mike was treated by Vescell adult stem cells for his dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure in Bangkok, Thailand in May 2008. Now, 10 months later, Mike is doing much better.

Before Vescell stem cells

• Ejection Fraction at 10%

After Stem Cell Treatment using Adult Stem Cells

• Ejection Fraction at 30%

Second Time Adult Stem Cell Research Has Saved Him

This was Mike's second close brush with death.  The first came in 1989 when he was in the hospital for six months for AML Leukemia which he survived due to Adult Stem Cell research in the form of a bone marrow transplant.

More Energy Due to the Stem Cells

With the renewed energy and heart function given to him by the stem cells, Mike has been able to go back to work at his job as a professional chaplain where he counsels dying patients in hospitals and hospices.  Mike has also been able to open up his own counseling business.

Still More Hurdles After Stem Cell Therapy

However,  Mike isn't out of the woods yet.   Unfortunately, Adult Stem Cell research can't help with valve repair.  Therefore, Mike is trying to get into a clinical trial in which they use a special clip  to correct severe mitral valve regurgitation.  Mike hopes his condition will improve even more if he is able to do it.

Thanks to Vescell blog for the story
Mike also has his own personal stem cell therapy blog