Of course most of the headlines of this well publicized story leave out the fact that it was Adult Stem Cells that were responsible for this great success.  However, let's not dwell on that.  Instead, let's look at another great discovery due to Adult Stem Cell research and another wonderful use of Repair (Adult) Stem Cells:

This product is for patients who suffer a haemorrhagic stroke, where a blood vessel in the brain bursts and that is exactly what happened to Walter Bast, a 49 year old gentleman from Germany.  Normally, the only option for a haemorrhagic stroke is an operation which doesn't always work.  In fact, about 50% of the patients die within one month of this operation and the rest usually have major damage.

However, there is a new way now- A Repair Stem Cell teabag so to speak:

The pioneering treatment, called CellBeads, involves cutting away part of the skull to tie off leaking blood vessels and remove blood from the brain.

Surgeons then insert the 2cm by 2cm 'teabag' filled with capsules stuffed with around a million stem cells.

The stem cells, taken from bone marrow (this means they are REPAIR STEM CELLS- DON), have been genetically engineered to make a drug known as CM1 that protects brain cells from dying. This lets the cells rejuvenate and repair the damage done by the stroke.

After around two weeks, doctors at the International Neuroscience-Institute in Hanover, Germany, removed the 'teabag', resulting in Mr Bast regaining his speech and the use of his right arm.

Speaking a week after the operation, the first of its kind in the world, Mr Bast, a mechanic, said: "I feel a lucky guy."

The so-called CellBeads treatment is the brainchild of scientists at the British medical technology firm Biocompatibles International, based in Farnham, Surrey.

The stem cells are encapsulated in beads to hide them from the immune system and ensure they are not rejected by the body.

Enclosing everything in the 2cm square 'teabag' ensures the surgeon can easily remove it at the end of the treatment period.

This really is great news.  Unfortunately, this was only part of  a clinical trial and it is an estimated 5 years before it will hit the "market" and be available to all.   Just for your information-  the Repair Stem Cell Institute currently lists 4 companies that are treating stroke patients NOW and from what I see have had a good share of success doing it too.

Click here for the full article

Well, you probably didn't know that I am in China right this moment attending the World Congress of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell 2008.  But it is true.  I will actually be giving a talk on what I call the Diabetes Pandemic and how Diabetes can really cripple National Healthcare programs in many countries.  The solution?  If you are reading this blog, then you know-  Adult Stem Cells or as we call them Repair Stem Cells.

Here is how my day went in Foshan, China:

Boy, this country is big and dense with people like I never saw.  So far, EVERYONE I have come in contact with has been overly friendly and super-helpful---EVERYONE.  Even the scary guys in the perfectly-pressed military uniforms went out of their way to help this poor old (I'm 74) man (OK, I acted a little helpless) through customs and immigration.  I was able to draw smiles, even laughs from a few, in my struggle to carry 30 kilos of collected dirty clothes, printed matter, raw foods,  and other junk in my suitcase and carry-on, from what is now 27 days of travel.

But it was worth it.  I'm meeting lots of doctors and stem cell researchers, ALL OF WHOM know about Repair Stem Cells vs. dozens of diseases and 97% of whom know embryonic stem cells can't cure even a hangnail.  What a pleasure!  On Thursday I hope to make a reservation to fly to Bangkok , but as my new-best-friend-chinese-travel-agent says, "Good Luck!"  He thinks I'll be in HK for another week or two.  Who knows, given how friendly the people here are, and that we are a 2.5 hour train ride from HK, and the internet is better in Foshan than in BKK, I could hang out here and miss Thailand just as easily as I do in HK.

Being an Inadvertent Exile isn't all bad.  After all, where else but Foshan could I have met Dr. James James of Chicago--a delightful guy who makes ME look NORMAL!  (As my late wife, Jo, once said, "Don has this morbid fear of being considered normal."  I think she was right.)  Dr. James James got me drunk last nite on one glass of wine. I wound up singing Russian songs with two guys from Moscow, getting into a scientific discussion in German with a doctor from Cologne and discussing the economic benefits of Norway with a Norwegian all without leaving the dinner table.

Read more about my exciting day of Stem Cells in Foshan

Last week, I posted about Dr. Zannos Grekos  treating the first ever Pulmonary Hypertension patient with Adult Stem Cells.  And what happened next is another one of Dr. Grekos' patients contacted me with this letter telling me how Dr. Grekos (a member of the Repair Stem Cell Institute's SAB) has helped with his Dilated Cardiomyopathy as well-  This is a great story because it came straight from the patient so you can see it through his eyes-  Read the whole thing!

My name is Leonard Narracci, and I live in Venice, Florida. Three years ago, I was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy. (This is a type of   untreatable Heart Disease for which until Adult Stem Cells, there was no treatment- Don)   I was always tired, listless, and completely lethargic. I underwent all the traditional cardiac testing, and the bottom line was that I would be on medication to maintain the status quo, but there was little hope of improving my cardiac condition.

I began my research to find a “better way. I found Regenocyte and Dr. Zannos Grekos , right here in my backyard in Bonita Springs, Florida. I researched his Stem Cell Therapy treatment intensely. Then, I attended a seminar of his, which confirmed the action that I had to take to repair my heart. I made an appointment with him and underwent all the necessary testing to determine if I was a viable candidate.
Fortunately, I was! I expressed the desire to have the treatment, and his office set everything in motion. The entire Regenocyte experience was nothing short of perfection, beginning with his very capable and competent assistant, Nancy Trombino. Nancy made all the necessary arrangements and reservations and provided me with an itinerary that explicitly told me where and when I had to be all at times during the treatment.

On October 7, 2008, my wife, my friend, and I left Miami Airport for the Dominican Republic. As soon as we deplaned, we were met by two Regenocyte agents, who were wonderful. They transported us to the Marriott Hotel, which was charming and very comfortable. The staff there made every effort to provide us with all that we needed. The Regenocyte agents catered to our every want and need, even providing me with a cell phone. All I had to do was press a single number and I could make contact with an agent at any time of the day or night.

Click on more to read what happens next!!

Today, I bring you a heart felt letter from the mother of a volunteer fireman named Kevin Daniels who suffered a terrible accident in the line of duty that has left him a quadriplegic with limited mobility.  The doctors advised the parents of Kevin to terminate his life at the time, but his parents said "Not a chance, Kevin is a fighter!"

Kevin made it through that time and then later his parents did some Adult Stem Cell research and found a place in Mexico that would implant Kevin with cord blood stem cells which as we all know are ADULT STEM CELLS (Repair Stem Cells)!    They went for it- and it worked!!!

On September 25, 2006 we went to Mexico and had the umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant. Since the procedure has been done, we have seen 33 improvements, some being significant. His speech is better. His medicine for spasticity in his extremities has been reduced to where he is only getting 20% of what he was getting. That is a 80% reduction. He now has slight movement in all 5 fingers on his left hand, which he didn't have before. We knew if the first trip was successful we would need to return every six months until no more improvements are seen. It is wonderful that after 3 years we can still see improvements because of this treatment.**

Kevin wants more Adult Stem Cells for even more improvement and needs donations which go through the fire department so they are tax deductible. Let's see if the Don Margolis blog and its followers can help with this goal- Here is the rest of the letter:

We are now trying to raise the funds to go back. The South Boston Fire Dept. is accepting donations. I'm reaching out to others outside of this area for help. I've never reached out to others for help since Kevin's accident, but the importance of Kevin continuing to receive the stem cell therapy means too much to him for me not to reach out and ask.**

I want to push the government and the medical field to research this avenue of treatment for others (She means using Adult Stem Cells- Don). I don't want this just to help my son, but for it to help others as well. This means that Kevin needs to continue this process to prove the success of this procedure.**

If you would like to send a donation or know of others that would like to help, please send the donation to:

Kevin Daniels Stem Cell Fund*
South Boston Fire Dept.*
403 Broad Street*
South Boston, VA 24592 *

You can contact Chief Steve Phillips with any questions at 434-575-4292. The fire dept. is receiving and administering the funds and all donations are tax deductible.**

Any donation would be greatly appreciated. Please help us to make this a reality. Thank you so much from my family.**

May God bless you and keep you is my prayer.**

Pat Daniels *
1106 Daniels Trail *
Halifax, VA 24558 *
434-575-1740 *
e-mail: patdaniels52@yahoo.com *

This was from Kurt Kamm's website