Thanks to advancements in Adult Stem Cell research, a Canadian boy has been able to improve his eyesight. Jakob Bielskis, a young boy from Calgary, Canada, was the first Canadian to go to China to receive stem cell treatment for Optic Nerve Hypoplasia- a disease that affects children when their optic nerve fails to develop leaving the child blind for life. Before the stem cell therapy in China, there was no treatment for this condition.

Jakob was first featured in July, 2008 in this stem cell blog. We announced he was going to China to become the first Canadian to be treated for Optic Nerve Hypoplasia. He was following in the footsteps of other children who have seen amazing improvements thanks to the Adult Stem Cells.

Before the Stem Cell Treatment:

• Couldn't see at all


• No response to light

After the Cord Blood Stem Cells Were Implanted:

• Has some vision, can respond to visual information


• Responds to light

Were the Adult Stem Cells Worth It?

More from the stem cell article:

That the $75,000 stem-cell transplant (Don- THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE FOLKS IN CHINA HAVE BEEN LOWERING THEIR PRICE---A LOT---SINCE HIS TREATMENT. THE TOTAL COST TODAY, INCLUDING AIRFARE AND LIVING FACILITIES IS AROUND $30,000, OR 60% LESS THAN THE "OLD DAYS!" FOR INFORMATION ON STEM CELL TREATMENTS FOR 100+ DISEASES AVAILABLE IN 2009, CLICK FOR STEM CELL TREATMENTS NOW) was worth it is of no question to the one-year-old's mom -- Villeneuve says her older boy's life has been altered since the therapy, covered by fundraising.

"He grabs at these flashing balls we have to hold up for him," said Villeneuve.

"We tested him with them a million times before, and nothing -- now he reaches out and grabs at them."

There are hopeful signs he is seeing and understanding things around him.

"He plays peek-a-boo and covers his eyes, and he's blowing kisses by putting his hand to his mouth," she said.

"How else could he know how to do that?"

Saving Umbilical Cord Blood For More Stem Cell Treatment

The doctors in China told the Bielskis that Jakob would probably benefit from a second round of cord blood stem cells.  Therefore, Jakob's mother recently had a child and saved the umbilical cord blood.    Now, that cord blood is being stored in Vancouver and waiting for when the Bielskis decide to give Jakob his second stem cell treatment with hopes for more improvement.

Another Stem Cell Success Story

Jakob Bielski now becomes the latest addition to our "club" of children who have been to China for stem cell therapy for their Optic Nerve Hypoplasia and the closely related Septo-Optic Dysplasia and then come back to the United States, UK (and now Canada) with better vision and other benefits to their development.

Just last week, we added Dakota Clarke , her mom said "It’s been worth every single penny to see the changes in her.”

A few weeks ago we added Macie Morse who can now see well enough to drive after her stem cell therapy.

And before that Coby Fend's mother said "“We are talking about going back — we’d almost be crazy not to, because right now it’s the best thing going in the entire world.”

And we also had Connor Corkern - He's doing great. He is doing wonderful. It's like we've got a totally new baby, Coye Corkern said

We had Cameron Petersen - Grandma Petersen said "There was nothing for Cameron before this treatment. Now, his world is limitless.”

Lydia Black-  From her father - "the treatment is already having a huge effect on her life, and he is glad that she was able to receive stem cell treatment in China. "

Lydia Olmstead and Rylea Barlett - "After her second treatment, we started to notice a change,”

Savannah Watring - “She said hello to herself in an elevator (after seeing her reflection). It blew everyone away. We weren’t expecting that.”

Hayley Pelletier- “If there’s a laptop within three to four feet of her, she knows it is a laptop,” Heather said. “That’s huge.”

Xavier Carballo- Xavier’s ophthalmologist, Dr. Jack Guggino of Tampa, said he did a baseline exam on the boy before the trip to China and after his return. He said before the treatment Xavier could only detect hand motion at 1 to 2 feet, and after the treatment he could count fingers at 3 to 4 feet.

“As far as Xavier is concerned, there has been definite and measurable improvement, neurologically and ophthalmologically,” Guggino said.

If you or someone you know has a similar condition, please go to our Repair Stem Cell Institute website and we will provide stem cell treatment information.

New Stem Cell Research for Unhealed Bone Fractures

A medical team is reporting new stem cell research using Adult Stem Cells to heal broken bones in the foot and ankle. The Adult Stem Cell product called "Trinity" was used to heal bone fractures  in the foot and ankle of 21 people that failed to connect properly after the initial healing.

Clinical Results of Adult Stem Cells For Unhealed Foot and Ankle Fractures

Dr. Shannon Rush, of Palo Alto Medical Foundation presented his results of using Adult Stem Cells in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery for March, 2009:

A review was conducted of 23 patients who underwent implantation of mesenchymal stem cell allograft for revision foot or ankle surgery. Composed of viable mesenchymal stem cells derived from cadaveric donor tissue, the graft had osteogenic, osteoinductive, and osteoconductive properties, and was capable of direct new bone formation at the site of implantation. In all of the cases, radiographic new bone formation was observed at the area of implantation and a 91.3% union rate was observed, and no evidence of graft rejection or complications associated with implantation were recorded.




Let me try to translate that-  the doctors took 23 patients who had broken bones or previous fractures  in their foot or ankle that did not heal properly (or nonunion is the clinical term).  As a result, they had difficulty and/or pain when walking.

21 out of the 23 patients who were implanted with this adult stem cell product "Trinity" achieved "bone union" and healing which allowed them to walk in regular shoes with little or no pain after their casts were removed.

What is Trinity?

Trinity is a mixture of donated adult stem cells combined with crushed bone from a bone bank.  It's full name is Trinity Multipotential Cellular Bone Matrix.


I previously covered Trinity and how it was used  for spinal fusions.  Most importantly, Trinity is already approved by the US FDA.

What This Means For Unhealed Bone Fractures

According to the Trinity website:

Trinity is an effective alternative to autograft in virtually all orthopedic applications. Essentially, for every surgical indication where autograft would be selected by a surgeon to be a bone void fill or bone growth stimulator, Trinity can be used. Trinity is not intended to be be used as an autograft "extender." It is intended to be a substitute for autograft.

An estimated 600,000 Americans suffer from unhealed bone fractures, so for any orthopedists or podiatrists or patients reading this- this is good news for you. Since it is FDA approved, I imagine if you wanted the "Trinity" adult stem cell product, it would be available for use-  "ask your doctor".

Some of the Repair Stem Cell Institute's doctors already use adult stem cells for bone fractures

Miracle Baby Can See After Adult Stem Cells Implanted

Many of you have seen the news about the blind girl from the United Kingdom,  Dakota Clarke who has been given the gift of sight from Adult Stem Cells (cord blood stem cells).  I covered it in this stem cell article yesterday.

A Letter from Father of the Stem Cell Baby

However, I was very surprised yesterday when I was looking through my emails and I had received an email from Darren Clarke, the father of Dakota!  Apparently, he stumbled upon my little obscure blog and saw my piece on his daughter and Adult Stem Cell research.

He gave me permission to post this very nice letter describing how Dakota is doing after being implanted with cord blood stem cells (stem cells taken from the umbilical cord blood of new born babies):

Hey there,

I’m Dakota Clarke’s father, and am just dropping you a quick word about the results we have seen so far with Dakota. Things have been better than expected and a lot sooner too. Dakota is identifying objects at a distance of 3 feet, but we think she can see further, although to what extent we can’t be sure yet. She is able to tell who people are from around 6-7 feet without any noise or prompting.

The (stem cell) treatment also cleared up a bowel problem she has suffered from for the last two years, which is fantastic for her as this has meant its one less medication she needs to get every day.

That’s the basics anyhow, but thought you may like to know after I read a piece in your blog concerning her treatment. Feel free to get in touch anytime at all.

Darren Clarke

More Adult Stem Cell Research Information

If you really want to see something special, go to Dakota Clarke's website - Miracle Baby or if you or someone you know has Septo-optic Dysplasia or Optic Nerve Hypoplasia, and you want to ask Darren about Dakota's experience with stem cell therapy using Adult Stem Cells, you can email Darren and Dakota directly at babydakota@googlemail.com

Other Stem Cell Information

For more information on this stem cell treatment and therapy for other diseases and conditions, you can visit our Repair Stem Cell Institute website, which we have just revamped.

Dakota Clarke, a young girl with Septo-Optic Dysplasia is able to see for the first time after undergoing a stem cell treatment in China. The stem cell research using Adult Stem Cells has enabled Dakota to be the first British girl to benefit from the new stem cell technology.

Dakota has been suffering from Septo-Optic Dysplasia (closely related to Optic Nerve Hypoplasia),  a disease in which the optic nerve doesn't develop properly, since birth and was treated three weeks ago at Beike Biotech stem cell treatment center in China.

Adult Stem Cells "Worth Every Single Penny"

When asked about the stem cell treatment, Dakota's mother Wilma Clarke said " "We didn't know if the treatment would work, and people kept telling us it was too experimental, but we had to do this.

"It's been worth every single penny to see the changes in her."

Her father, Darren Clarke said, ""It's nothing short of a miracle for us. She can see the world for the first time."     This is only three weeks after the adult stem cell treatment using cord blood stem cells taken from new born's umbilical cords.

Before the stem cell treatment:

• Registered Blind


• Balance Issues, needed two people to help her walk


• Had severe bowel problems

After the cord blood stem cells were implanted:

• Can now see, eyes tracking together, can recognize people


• Better balance, only needs one person to hold her hand to walk


• Bowel problems improved, can use the toilet easily

Mr. Clarke added this  "Last week she pointed at a hairbrush across the room and shouted 'brush'. I almost cried with happiness."

Cord Blood Stem Cells Are Safe

Dr. Tom Liu, the director of Beike Biotech, the stem cell treatment center that helped Dakota, said "The use of stem cells taken from the umbilical cord is completely safe. As we learn more about the way these cells work our results are getting better and better."

Yes, Dr. Tom, followers of this blog know that cord blood stem cells are safe and are wondering why this stem cell treatment isn't available in the United States or United Kingdom and why these families have to go to China for treatment.

However, this is still fantastic news.   I hope to be able to follow more improvements in Dakota in the near future.  Remember, all of these improvements come just three weeks after she had the Adult Stem Cells implanted.  The stem cells should still be working. Here is the whole stem cell article about Dakota

UPDATE: I found a previous article on Dakota while she was still in China. Key Quotes-- Wilma said she shed tears of happiness when Dakota was able to see her face for the first time. "I jumped up and down when she saw the brush and grabbed it.
"No words can describe how I feel. All along we didn't dare have our hopes built up and we were prepared in case the treatment didn't work. I cried tears of joy when I realised she could see.
"It makes all of the effort we put in with the fundraising really worthwhile," added Darren.

Here is the other stem cell article

More Stem Cell Research information

Dakota is the latest in a long list of children who have gone to China to treat Septo-Optic Dysplasia and Optic Nerve Hypoplasia.  Others on the list who have improved their vision and other conditions significantly thanks to advances in this stem cell research include Macie Morse, a 16 year old who can drive now after being blind, Coby Fend, Connor Corkern, Cameron Petersen, Lydia Black, Lydia Olmstead and Rylea Barlett, Savannah Watring, Hayley Pelletier and Xavier Carballo.

Cord Blood Stem Cells Give Spinal Cord Injury patient feeling

In yet another triumph for Stem Cell research, cord blood stem cells (Adult Stem Cells) have helped give Spinal Cord Injury patient,  Bradley Koenning a better quality of life after being totally paralyzed from a dirt bike accident.

Bradley, 21, from Westhoff, Texas, was paralyzed from the neck down following the accident and traveled to Lima, Peru to receive stem cells taken from the umbilical cord blood of new born babies.  These cord blood stem cells are NOT to be confused with the fetal stem cells (stem cells removed from an aborted fetus) recently in the news for causing tumors.

Before the Adult Stem Cells:

• No feeling from the neck down


• No feeling in bladder, didn't know when he would have to use the restroom


• Low blood pressure, Bradley would often pass out because it was so low

After the umbilical cord blood stem cells were implanted:

• Can feel from the chest up


• Can feel his bladder too, knows when to use the bathroom


• Blood pressure equalized, doesn't pass out anymore

Key quotes from the stem cell news article:

The treatment shots cost about $25,000. Because they are not yet approved in the United States, he has to travel overseas to receive them, his mother said. This April, he is going to Tijuana for another treatment.

"Our hope is he will be able to walk again with this treatment. I think it should be available in the U.S.," she said. "There are so many people with spinal cord injuries that need these shots but can't afford them. Since they aren't approved, insurance won't cover them."

Look at that quote directly above.  Don't take it from me, take it from the mother of a Spinal Cord Injury patient.  Think how many millions could be helped if we had Adult Stem Cells available here in the good old USA.

Here is the full stem cell article

Additional Adult Stem Cell Research Information:

See our Spinal Cord Injury archives for more good stem cell success stories and information on stem cell treatment for the treatment of spinal cord injuries (SCI).