Girl With Cerebral Palsy Helped By Stem Cell Research

The parents of a young girl with cerebral palsy (CP)are already reporting improvements in their daughter's quality of life after completing adult stem cell therapy in China.  Mia Allen, 2, completed 30 days of treatment and research recently using stem cells taken from donated cord blood.

Muscle Tone Improved From Stem Cells

The family from Seanaféistín in Costello, Ireland returned from China in December, 2009 after the therapy.  Since then, Mia's mother Barbara says " "I have noticed a marked improved in her since we came home. She is definitely seeing and hearing more and her muscle tone is definitely stronger."  

From the stem cell news story:

But yesterday her mother Barbara told The Connacht Tribune that their “little angel” is already enjoying improved sight and hearing as well as stronger muscle strength.

This is after eight stem cells treatment administered intra-venously at a hospital in the Quingdao region, where she was for five and a half weeks.

Barbara and Mia were joined by Mia’s father Seamus for the last week and the three of them returned home the day before Christmas Eve.

“The hospital and the staff were fantastic. They all loved Mia and even now if she hears Chinese music she smiles. And she loved the food there. The only set back was she developed an allergy to the milk there because it is not pasteurised but we soon got over that,” said Barbara, who was told when her daughter was born that she wouldn’t survive beyond the age of two, would never lift her head and would never smile.

Mia, who is diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, has defied the medics and is due to celebrate her third birthday this July.

Other Cerebral Palsy Stem Cell Research Success Stories

Plenty of other cerebral palsy patients have improved after stem cell treatment.  We have dozens of stem cell research success stories in our cerebral palsy section

Multiple Sclerosis Patient Gets Life Back From Adult Stem Cells

Another multiple sclerosis (MS)patient from Canada is reporting improvements after adult stem cell treatment from Dr. Shimon Slavin in Israel.  Brent Davidson, from Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, says the adult stem cells which improved his quality of life "wasn’t cheap, but it was worth every penny.” 

Canadian MS Patients Must Leave Canada For Treatment

Davidson followed in the footsteps of fellow Canadians and multiple sclerosis patients  Louis Zylstra and Arndt Roehlig, who went to Dr. Slavin for the stem cell therapy using their own stem cells. 



Before the stem cells:

• reduced cognitive functions
• needed a cane to walk
• daily fatigue and pain

After the stem cells were implanted:

• Cognitive functions returned
• No cane needed, now Davidson is running and playing tennis!
• Davidson says "5% of the pain" there was before the treatment

From the stem cell news story:

“Five CC’s of clear liquid, which happened to be 49 million of my cleaned cells, were infused into my lower spine,” he said, adding the result was dramatic.

“My body went into a state of delirium, a sort of coma,” he said. “I didn’t know my wife and I forgot my children’s names.”

But that was temporary, and five days later he was released from the hospital, and six weeks after that his balance began to return and now he no longer needs a cane to walk. He’s able to run, ride his bike, and play tennis. Even his cognitive functions have returned.

“I have about five per cent of the pain I had before,” he said. “Every day there’s some improvement.”

Davidson added his doctors here are impressed.

Though stem cell research in Canada is progressing, the procedure is not readily available. The price tag for Davidson’s entire medical procedure was about $30,000 USD, not including travel and accommodation costs.

“It wasn’t cheap, but it was worth every penny,” he said.

Another Cochrane resident and MS patient travelled to a clinic in Germany for a similar procedure.

Kim Johnson’s results have not been as dramatic as Davidson’s, though her eyesight has improved and she does have more mobility.

“I’m so glad I did it,” she said. “Things are coming, but I’d hoped it would have been faster.”

Hoping Stem Cell Treatment Will Come To Canada Faster

Well, I wouldn't have to publicize Canadians MS patients going abroad if adult stem cell treatment was available in Canada. Unfortunately, this safe treatment is not. Therefore, Canadians must travel abroad and pay money out of their own pocket for treatment that actually helps them. I guess that "free" Canadian health care isn't so great if you actually have to use it.

Stem Cell Research Trial Gives Girl Improvement In Cerebral Palsy

The mother of a Tampa Bay girl says her daughter is 85% cured of her cerebral palsy following her participation in a stem cell research trial at Duke University.  The parents of Alyssa Dupuis call it a medical miracle following the implantation of adult stem cells saved from her cord blood at birth.

The treatment took place at a research trial at Duke University for children with cerebral palsy and also who have stored their cord blood at birth.  If you have not stored your child's cord blood, the FDA and Duke says you are out of luck and must seek therapy outside the United States. 

From the stem cell news story:

Call it mother's intuition, but years before she had banked Alyssa's umbilical cord blood at birth. “I said to my husband, I said ‘Hey, we may have a shot here to reverse what has happened to Alyssa.’” 

The stem cell infusion took only 15 minutes.  Back home, the family must report to researchers any changes every 3 months. “Her speech has exploded, unbelievable. She is about what I would consider 85 percent cured from CP. She can walk flatfooted with a leg brace."

The treatment cost about $10,000 - not covered by insurance because its still deemed experimental and the cost to recover and bank those stem cells is also in the thousands of dollars but Andrea says, “When it comes to your child, you'll pay anything."

Stem Cells Helping CP Now

Other patients who have been helped by the research stem cell trial at Duke are John Centrello, another lad with cerebral palsy.   Maia Friedlander, a girl who with her family traveled all the way from New Zealand.

Adult Stem Cells Not Available In United States

If you have not saved your child's cord blood and your child has cerebral palsy, you do have some options, but none involve treatment in the United States.  You may have to go for overseas stem cell treatment .  Costa Rica, China, Germany, Mexico, El Salvador are all other options where you can get your child stem cell therapy using either donated cord blood stem cells or your child's own stem cells taken from his bone marrow.

Stem Cell Research Helps Improve Dilated Cardiomyopathy Patient

A dilated cardiomyopathy patient who has battled congestive heart failure for over 10 year is reporting improvements in his ejection fraction following therapy using his own adult stem cells.  Les Nachman says his ejection fraction has gone up from 23% to 41% after 6 months following the stem cell research and treatment. 

From the stem cell news story:

Nachman feels much better, and says he expects his Ejection Fraction to rise even more when he is tested again in a few months.

“I’m thinking about dancing again and doing things I haven’t done,” Nachman said. “I stay in the office instead of leaving to take a nap. My life has taken on a whole new meaning, and I have a good feeling about this lasting.”

The Adult Stem Cell Process

Stem Cells Helps Spinal Cord Injury Patient, but Michigan Court Does Not

A spinal cord injury (SCI) patient who improved after stem cell treatment in Portugal has lost a court decision in Michigan declaring that insurance did not have to pay for the therapy despite the success of it.  Kevin Krohn, who regained feelings in his lower body after the adult stem cells from his nose were implanted into his spinal cord, lost in the Michigan Court of Appeals when the judges reversed a jury decision earlier which had awarded Kevin $51,000 for the treatment and stem cell research which improved his quality of life. 

From the stem cell news article:

The panel reversed the jury verdict ordering Home-Owners Insurance Co. to pay a $51,400 claim by Krohn for an experimental stem cell procedure.

The case went to court after the insurance company denied the claim, arguing the procedure was not reasonable nor necessary. (Not necessary? What if they were in Kevin's unfortunate condition? -DM)

Krohn suffered a severe spinal injury in a 2001 traffic crash, leaving him with no feeling below his chest. A stem cell treatment in 2005 restored some nerve connections, giving Krohn control of his bowels and bladder and allowing some movement of his hips.

The fact the treatment was successful in improving Krohn’s condition is irrelevant, the panel ruled. The majority opinion stated the case should have been dismissed by the trial court for lack of evidence of the “scientific reliability” of the the surgery.

Before allowing the jury to decide the case, the opinion said, Lenawee County Circuit Judge Timothy Pickard should have required evidence the procedure had “gained general acceptance in the medical community.”

The procedure was done at a government hospital in Portugal’s capital of Lisbon by Dr. Carlos Lima.

A dissenting opinion by Judge Karen Fort Hood said the panel was overstepping its authority in ruling on the scientific reliability of the procedure when no hearing on that issue was held.

The insurance company did not challenge admission of the surgeon’s testimony, said Hood, so there was no opportunity at the trial level for Krohn to present evidence of scientific reliability. The Appeals Court panel erroneously made its own analysis based on a limited record, said Hood.

Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance statute does not require medical procedures to be approved by the federal Food & Drug Administration and performed in the United States, as the majority opinion indicates, she said.

Hood also rejected the insurance company’s argument that the Lenawee County jury’s decision would cause a flood of claims for experimental procedures.

The Fact The Treatment Was Successful Is Irrelevant?

"The fact the treatment was successful in improving Krohn's condition is irrelevant."   What a terrible statment that is.  I see a man in distress and doing what was best for him under the circumstances-- going to Dr. Carlos Lima for stem cells which improved his quality of life.  If he had left it up to the insurance company, he would NOT have anything now- no feeling in his bowels, no feelings in his legs, no movement at all in his hips. 

This is the problem with Obama's proposed healthcare reform and socialized medicine in general.  It takes the individual's personal choice or preference for medical treatment out of the equation.  If Kevin had left his fate up to a insurance commission or a "medical commission" appointed by the state,  he would not have any of the improvements in his quality of life that he has today thanks to the adult stem cell research.