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 Helps SCI Patient Improve Quality of Life

A European woman who suffered a spinal cord injury says that stem cell research is working "miraculousy" after receiving the therapy in Russia.  The treatment used adult stem cells taken from her bone marrow.  Vlada Kravchenko, 18, of Malta who was paralyzed by a spinal cord injury when a lighting structure fell on her, says that the stem cell therapy has helped her to crawl and wants to return to Russia for more treatments in hopes for more improvement. 



Vlada Kravchenko (above) moving around after stem cell treatment. 

From the stem cell news story:

Her mother said the recovery process had been miraculous, adding that her daughter had to train herself to walk like a child, starting from crawling and working her way up.

"We're going to have to do it all over again, but we will manage," she said.

Vlada was quick to add that the treatment does not work by itself. "You cannot sit down, watch TV, and expect to heal. I have to do exercises every day. Unfortunately, in Malta we don't have the kind of rehabilitation centres you find abroad - so I have to make do with what we have."

Besides the medical fees, there are several risks involved when her bone marrow cells are extracted and placed into her damaged spinal cord to stimulate nerve reconstruction. Some scientists have argued the stem cells can become cancerous.

"I wasn't a blind sheep. I asked the doctors questions about everything so I was absolutely informed. The risks are very minimal compared with the results I'm getting. Besides, with every type of treatment there will always be risks, but I would do it anyway," she said.

Remarkable Progress For SCI Patients UsING ADULT STEM CELLS

Vlada is in contact with an American girl who had a similar SCI injury.  The American girl is apparently on her 9th treatment and has made remarkable progress.  This is noteable as I always say that adult stem cell therapy is a treatment that helps improve the quality of life in patients.  It is rarely a cure. 

I think most patients realize this, but the media and research scientists create a strawman and say that these stem cell companies claim amazing cures.  However, any adult stem cell treatment associated with the Repair Stem Cell Institute do not promise cures, but they do promise a chance at a better quality of life with minimal risks. 

Patients like Justin McCray, another spinal cord injury patient, who has returned to school after stem cell treatment, know that the stem cells do not cure, but they do help.

Also, there are some research studies that show stem cells do help improve SCI injuries.  For example, there is this research study showing how stem cells help improve the quality of life in spinal cord injury patients.

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.

Spinal Cord Injury Helped By Adult Stem Cells

A Mississippi teen with a spinal cord injury has improved his quality of life after receiving treatment with his own stem cells. The young man went to Germany to receive stem cell treatment at the Xcell Center, an adult stem cell therapy company. 

Justin McCray, a junior in high school will be able to attend school again for the first time since an accident injured his spinal cord and left him paralyzed thanks to benefits received after the therapy. 



From the stem cell news story:

McCray, a junior at North Forrest High School, still needs a wheelchair to get around. But he is now strong enough to move a non-mechanized chair himself and can move himself from his wheelchair.

"He has definitely made tremendous progress," physical therapist Jennifer Stewart said. "He has made so many gains in so many areas."

"We're still hopeful that he'll get up and be able to walk," said Marche' Maye, Justin's mother. "He has gotten so much back, just since we came back from Germany. "He's starting to feel things below his waist." "We can't imagine what that's like," Stewart said. "All of his goals relating to therapy are pointed toward gaining as much independence as possible. "The more independent we can make him, the better it is for him."

More On The Simple Stem Cell Procedure

McCray said the stem-cell procedure, in which stem cells are processed from the patient's bone marrow then reinjected, was not as invasive as it might sound. "They went up in my lower back and took the stem cells out, then injected me in my hip," he said. "It left me with a bad headache for about a day. But other than that, it wasn't too bad."

60% Success Rate - Not Too Shabby FOR SPiNal Cord Injuries

The procedure was done at the XCell-Center in Dusseldorf, Germany. The clinic claims about a 60 percent success rate in patients with spinal-cord injuries. McCray has regained significant movement and feeling from his waist up, and is starting to regain some feeling in his feet. More important, he is now able to stand up in leg braces and can walk a few steps with assistance.

Germany 60% Success Rate, United States 0%

Notice that nobody is promising a cure and a miracle.  In fact, the Xcell Center is not even promising improvement. 
Using the 60% success rate, it is easy for all to see that they have a 40% "unsuccessful" rate.  While the Xcell Center offers 60%, the United States offers a 0% success rate and a 100% "unsuccessful" rate as they offer nothing.  Thus, it is not surprising that spinal cord injury patients (and other patients) are flocking to Germany and other overseas clinics when the United States and all of their wonderful research and development has nothing to offer these people. 

Is it that the United States doesn't have the technology?  No, the technology is surprisingly simple and has been available for over 20 years.  Is it that the United States doesn't have the knowledge on the adult stem cell procedure?  No, for Justin McCray, it was as simple a procedure as a spinal tap.    Is it dangerous?  No, the treatment uses the patient's own stem cells, their own repair system.

Then why can't this stem cell treatment be done in the United States???  Millions of patients want to know.  I want to know. 

Other Stem Cell Success Stories

The Xcell Center also has had some success treating children with cerebral palsy. Also, see more patients with spinal cord injuries helped by their own adult stem cells.

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 Therapy Helping Patients In India

A government run hospital in Mumbai, India is helping patients improve their quality of life through stem cell therapy using adult stem cells.   Sion Hospital in Mumbai is helping patients with diseases and conditions such as spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and motor neuron disease. 

From the stem cell success story :

Ankur Nath, 23, a muscular dystrophy patient was eating pizza for the first time in 9 years thanks to the stem cells taken from his bone marrow at Sion Hospital.  In fact, before the stem cell treatment 4 months ago, for the last 9 years, Ankur was unable to savor any meal due to the complications of his muscular dystrophy. 

A Better Quality of Life? Who Wouldn't Want That?

Skeptics of adult stem cell research say that  stem cells will probably not cure Ankur's muscular dystrophy.  They are probably right, the stem cells at this time will not cure Ankur.    However, the adult stem cells can slow the progression of the muscular dystrophy and give him a better quality of life.  Who wouldn't want that?  I can only imagine the joy he felt in eating that pizza. 


The other patient featured is Dr. Hemangi Sane, 34, a doctor who formerly practiced in New York and  is suffering from motor neuron disease , the same disease that Stephen Hawking has. 

Dr. Sane says :

“My shoulders are no longer droopy. I can speak clearly and for hours at a stretch. I can walk without swaying,’’ the 34-year-old listed. Until August (before the stem cell therapy), she spoke mostly in whispers and, while walking with assistance, could only register the designs on the floor. “Now, I can hold my neck up and watch all the beautiful colours,’’ she added.

India More Advanced Than USA In Stem Cell Research

This is wonderful what they are doing at Sion Hospital.  And it is a shame that the United States does not have similar hospitals- hospitals that use stem cell therapy to give patients like Ankur and Dr. Sane a better quality of life. Make no mistake, this isn't voodoo, these doctors are simply putting a person's own repair stem cells into the damaged area that is affecting them.  If you have never been through stem cell therapy or have never witnessed it, you would be shocked at how amazingly simple it is.  And you would be similarly shocked that it isn't available to patients in the United States.  As I continue to repeat- not treating these patients with something (their own adult stem cells) that can help them (with no negative effects) is allowing them to suffer and die. 

More from Sion Hospital in Mumbai, India:

The first patient whom Sion Hospital treated, Ravindra Ahire, who met with a bike accident in April 2007 and sustained severe spinal cord injuries, is, in fact, walking with a stick. “We have treated 76 patients with various diseases so far and most are doing much better than what they were doing before the therapy,’’ said Dr Sharma, who began the stem cell treatment after years of conducting laboratory studies.

“Muscular atrophy and motor neuron disease can bring about a complete change in the patient’s life. By offering them stem cell therapy, we have managed to brighten their lives to an extent. They are more independent than before,’’ said Dr Sandhya Kamat, dean of Sion Hospital.

In fact, Dr Sharma feels that Ankur’s recovery “after stem cell therapy is nothing short of miraculous’’. For one, Ankur was the first patient on a ventilator to be treated by the Sion team.

No harm in treatment from adult stem cells-- only potential upside. 

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.

Published Research Study of Stem Cell Therapy For SCI

A published research study shows that adult stem cells helped improve mobility and the quality of life of 20 patients suffering from spinal cord injuries (SCI).  Dr. Jean Peduzzi-Nelson of Wayne State University conducted the study, “Olfactory Mucosal Autografts and Rehabilitation for Chronic Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury,” which was published online in the journal Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair.

Study Follows Up Spinal Cord Injury Patients Treated in Portugal

The spinal cord injury patients were actually treated in Portugal by Dr. Carlos Lima, who has published this stem cell research paper before detailing his stem cell therapy protocol in which he removed adult stem cells from the patient's own nose. 

From the stem cell news article:

In the study, 20 patients with severe chronic spinal cord injuries received a treatment combination of partial scar removal, transplantation of nasal tissue containing stem cells to the site of the spinal cord injury and rehabilitation. All of the patients had total paralysis below the level of their spinal cord injury before the treatment.

 

“This may be the first clinical study of patients with severe, chronic spinal cord injury to report considerable functional improvement in some patients with a combination treatment,” Peduzzi-Nelson said. “Normally, in people with spinal cord injuries that happened more than 18 months ago, there is little improvement.”

 

The injuries in the study patients were 18 months to 15 years old. The patients, ages 19 to 37, had no use of their legs before the treatment. One paraplegic treated almost three years after the injury now ambulates with two crutches and knee braces. Ten other patients ambulate with physical assistance and walkers (with and without braces). One 31-year-old male tetriplegic patient uses a walker without the help of knee braces or physical assistance. When the stem cell transplant and scar removal process was combined with an advanced form of rehabilitative training that employs brain-initiated weight-bearing movement, 13 patients improved in the standard measures used to assess functional independence and walking capabilities.

Study Conducted in USA, but Treatment Done in Portugal

It is sad that although this research study was published by a Wayne State University doctor, the actual stem cell treatment must be done outside the United States.  In this instance, the spinal cord injury patients had to travel from the USA to Portugal.  We have also covered a similar successful research paper of SCI patients treated in Ecuador. 

Yes, this is good news though just confirming what most of the readers of this blog already know- adult stem cells can help improve the quality of life in most cases, and there is very little risk in the treatment. 

Of course, a canceled research study of Embryonic Stem Cells for spinal cord injury will get more news than this one.  Imagine if this therapy was available in the US- how many SCI patients that could get an improved quality of life from their own Repair Stem Cells. 

If you are interested in stem cell treatment for SCI by Dr. Carlos Lima or for any other disease or condition, please drop me an email at don@repairstemcells.org and put TREATMENT in the subject line. 

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.

Florida Man With SCI Improved From Stem Cells

A Florida man who has a spinal cord injury (SCI) is benefiting from stem cell research that uses adult stem cells exclusively.  David Aldrich is singing the praises of stem cell therapy in China that has helped improved his quality of life.

His Doctors Recommended He Go To China? Amazing!

Aldrich was paralyzed in a diving accident which also left him 100% blind.  In a miracle of sorts, his local US doctors actually SUGGESTED he travel to China where they were doing the research and treatment using cord blood stem cells that would change his life.

After 3 Weeks- Could See Again!

While in China, Aldrich's could see again after the third week of the therapy.  From the stem cell news article:

"While I was there, the third week, things started to come more into view," Aldrich said. "I started being able to read things." Aldrich said his breathing, speech and limb control all improved. National Geographic also followed his progress in a documentary called "Supercell."

Aldrich encouraged the use of stem cell therapies in the country. "There are so many people who suffer with diseases and spinal cord injuries that could be helped with stem cells," he said.

Aldrich has made two trips to China, and he said his vision is even better. In addition, he can now lean forward, whereas before the therapy he could only shrug his shoulders. He can also move his arms and legs and wiggle his toes.

He said he can enjoy many activities that he used to take for granted. "Being able to take my dog out for a walk everyday is the best part of my life," he said.

A Founding Father Of The Stem Cell Awareness Association

David is also one of the founders of the Stem Cell Awareness Association, an organization that is pushing to have adult stem cell therapy available in the United States as well as help sick patients seek adult stem cells outside the US. 

Stem Cell Video - Spinal Cord Injury

Here is a stem cell video of David just after his 2nd stem cell treatment.

David Returns to China for Treatment from Stem Cells China on Vimeo.