Stem cells have been in the news a lot recently. A US judge has shut down the Federal funding plans for embryonic research. While we at StemCellsChina champion the use of autologous and umbilical cord-derived stem cells we can't help but notice that too many people still lump all stem cells together into one big issue. They're walking in the dark about the "other" stem cell. We'll do what we can to hang a light for the world to see.

Leena Returns to China and Checks Out Shanghai

Following up on a previous video we posted about Leena we thought we'd catch up with her family during their second visit to China. This time they visited the new stem cell clinic in Shanghai's St Michael's Hospital. Leena appears to be responding well to the treatments and we're thrilled to see her continue to make strides. Click on the photo or click here to check out Leena's new video.

Doctors to FDA: You have no jurisdiction over someone's own stem cells.

Autologous stem cells are stem cells you receive from your own body. We all have adult stem cells working for us all the time directing development throughout our bodies. This note in Nature presents the case made by doctors who believe the FDA's rules for drugs do not apply to material from our own bodies. There is a long history of adult stem cell use in medicine. Read up and get informed.

Awareness Event Update

If you missed the August event in Tampa we're sure there will be more around the US. We'll do our best to keep you posted about them. Here's an article from The Sun Newspapers written by their Feeling Fit Publisher describing the event. We hope you can make it to the next one!

Chace Back in Canada

Chace and his family recently returned from Qingdao to Canada. They've kept up their blog sharing with us news of his improvements following his therapy.

"Chace is getting enough strength in his arms that he is actually starting to support himself  when sitting. He sat up for just over 5 seconds by himself!! When being supported, he is starting to correct himself when he starts to fall over. Also, he is bearing weight on his legs…. It’s a start!"

Dr Hakim -- Osteoarthritis Adult Stem Cell Patient

Dr Hakim has seen the practice of medicine evolve over half a century. Watching the progress of patients receiving adult stem cell treatments, he chose to receive transplants of umbilical cord stem cells to treat symptoms associated with Osteoarthritis. StemCellsChina is pleased to present an interview with Dr Hakim discussing the complications of medications associated with the condition and the results he saw following the treatment. Click here to check out Dr Hakim's new video.

Rahman has known he's had a condition for many years. But only in the last couple years as he's pushed for a PhD has the muscle wasting begun to significantly affect all aspects of his life. Rahman has a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy. Check out our new video as he discusses his condtion, how it has affected his life and studies, the options available for him back home and his expectations for the stem cell treatments.

Follow links at Rahman's patient experience to StemCellsChina's interview with him and his website to learn more about him and his condition.

Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS) left Mia with poor balance, fatigue, garbled speech and poor coordination. She felt her wonderful life slipping away from her. An English teacher, she was losing the ability to make it through a full school day. In this week's video here at StemCellsChina Mia discusses her condition and the changes friends and colleagues saw following adult stem cell treatments. Click here to see Mia's PLS video.

A passionate writer, Mia has had a blog at StemCellsChina for the past year. Follow her today.

Skyler in the US Press

Check out Skyler Goodwin's write-up at ABC15. They note "Two-year-old Skyler Goodwin was born almost completely blind, unable to see anything except for changes in light. Now Skyler can see 12 inches in front of her face, thanks to an operation overseas." We're cheering for Skyler. Maybe the US will have something available in ten years. But Skyler is seeing more today.

Valerie and Dean's Blogs

Valerie's updates continue along with news of a return to China. Improvements were summarized best in her words, "WOW WOW WOW and WOW!" Check out Valerie's ONA Patient Experience and video here.

Dean's apparently getting some of that "spontaneous improvement" so many ONH patients are finding in China. His vision has gone from 20/600 to 20/300 in his right eye following a new transplantation procedure for adult stem cells. This should help him out as he gets behind the wheel for some country driving.

Cracking Open the Vault

We've been cleaning up the StemCellsChina site, making it more accessible, easier to read and easier to watch interviews. We're happy this week to add the Former Lord Mayor Audrey Jones' Ataxia video. Subtitled and combined into one streaming file, Audrey was one of the first international patients to come to China for stem cell treatments. No more clicking through individual clips. Watch it now at Audrey's Patient Experience.

“We've never seen her improve so much in such a short period of time."

Stormy Goodwin, mother of Skyler (ONH) quoted at ABC15.com

Nanna Talks ONH

Nanna and her family have put in a lot of work to find ways of improving her vision. For her, being able to read and write like other kids is very important. Her optic nerves are underdeveloped leaving her with virtually no vision. Rather than risk a surgery which might sever her optic nerve she gave adult stem cells a try.

Her mother said her doctors had told them they'd be better off using the treatment money for a nice little vacation down south. Nanna was very accustomed to the acupuncture she received alongside the donated adult stem cells. In this week's new video Nanna talks about the differences between acupuncture in Denmark and China and their journey around the world. We hope to bring you more about Nanna in the near future.

Click here to check out Lawrence E Brown, III's recent ONH video for more.

Valerie is Coming Back!

Valerie just updated her blog with notice of a return trip to China. We're happy to hear about her improvements since her first treatment and wish her the best on this second journey. Valerie's video and patient experience can be found here.

Click here to see our Vimeo Channel devoted to Optic Condition Patients.