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Our website is dedicated to providing you with up-to-date and on-target information about adult stem cells, research and current treatments available in China. We help match patients to providers in China. Bookmark this page and check back regularly for updates!
StemCellsChina Updates for October
"He's had more progress in the five weeks that we've been here than in the last two years of conventional therapy."
Aaron Frohman, father of Braden Frohman (CP)
Choosing to undergo adult stem cell therapy or deciding the time is right for your child or loved one to receive it is a huge decision. While umbilical cord blood stem cells and autologous bone marrow cells are by no means rare in this world gaining access to them is fraught with challenges. But access isn't a challenge in China. Safety tests for your own bone marrow have long shown infusions to be safe and umbilical cord and cord blood stem cells have been safely received by six thousand patients in China now. That represents well over 20,000 transplantation events and opportunities for safety data to present a problem. It simply hasn't.
So why do doctors, and particularly Western physicians, still throw up the specter of tumors, unethical cells, rejection from trials and refusal of medication when they learn their patient is going to China? They fear what they do not know. They are prejudicial to their own medical system and introducing "stem cell therapy" into the discussion may feel like suggesting taking your Holidays on the moon this year.
Two of our featured patients this month sustained vehicular accidents. Two had troubled births. All four came to China against the odds with the hopes of leaving with a better quality of life. Each has a unique story and we're glad to be able to share them with you today. If you will be in the Springfield, Missouri area consider getting to the Stem Cell Awareness event there this weekend.
If you are interested in more information about therapies available for a specific condition please submit an inquiry to us here.
October's Featured Video
One of Claire Marsh's first questions when considering adult stem cell therapy was whether or not anybody had gotten worse as a result of the treatment. After seeing what was possible for a spinal cord injury patient receiving adult stem cells she satisfied herself that the treatment wouldn't make her condition worse. Reading through the Patient Experiences and Blogs here at StemCellsChina led her to submit an inquiry and get connected to the Chengyang People's Hospital in Qingdao China. Then she signed up.
We're thrilled to present her video this month and we're also excited to hear she'll be returning for another round of transplants later this year. We hope she sees continued success.
Check out her patient experience here.
Here at StemCellsChina we're constantly working to improve the quality of our presentation. Providing video content is expensive time-consuming work and we're grateful for the volunteers and donations that make it possible for us to provide updates.
As part of this effort we're happy to dust off some old videos which may have been difficult to watch at this website previously. We'll be updating Patient Experiences associated with these videos as well.
This month we've collected together the clips for Konnor Boles. Like Braden Frohman this month, Konnor suffered from Spastic Quad Cerebral Palsy. Check out Konnor's Patient Experience here and watch his footage in one complete restored clip here.
Missouri Stem Cell Awareness Event Scheduled for October 3rd
If you can be near Springfield, Missouri on October 3rd think about joining doctors, past and future stem cell patients for this Stem Cell Awareness Event. The last US event, held in Denver, was a great success and we're eager to hear your stories about this one. Brad Hart, the father of Braden Hart, will be hosting the event and can answer any questions you may have about it.
Location: Springfield, Missouri
Place: Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Conference Room
2720 North Glenstone
Phone: (417) 865-8600 - Hotel
Date: October 3rd, 2009
Time: 1pm-5pm
Contact: Brad and Braden Hart (
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Book your rooms soon! Contact Brad Hart (
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) to
register and visit www.stemcellaware.com for more information.
More New Videos Here
This month StemCellsChina is pleased to present new short videos about patients undergoing adult stem cell therapy in China.
Braden appeared to be a normal healthy child until his second year. In the past four years he has been diagnosed with Spastic Quad Cerebral Palsy and his family has taken him to numerous centers and seen him undergo a great deal of physical therapy to improve his condition. That's all that was possible for him.
But his father wanted more and this year they brought him to China to receive transplants of umbilical cord blood stem cells and an autologous transfusion of his own mesenchymal stem cells from his bone marrow.
Check out her patient experience here and read news stories about him prior to his journey here and here.
Yusrah traveled to Qingdao China to undergo a month's transplants of umbilical cord blood stem cells at the Chengyang People's Hospital. Yusrah was diagnosed with a malformed neural tube in the womb, was born premature and has subsequently been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Optic Nerve Atrophy.
Following so many other families who have taken the plunge to come to China, Yusrah's mother hoped to see impressive strides in Yusrah's development and possibly increase her vision as well.
Check out her patient experience here.
Earl had great hopes for the future of stem cell medicine even before the motorcycle accident that left him with a brain injury. Earl and his wife, Tessie, had banked their child's cord blood. The accident affected one side of Earl's body more than the other but it left him with cognitive impairments all around.
Earl and Tessie traveled to Shijiazhuang, south of Beijing, where Earl received injections of umbilical cord blood stem cells, daily physical therapy and accupuncture. Of Earl's improvements during the month it was wonderful to hear Tessie say "He's coming back to me."
Check out Earl's patient experience here.
Featured Patient Blogs
This month we've been excited to track further results from many patients through their blog updates.
Mia Ruthey - PLS
Mia is a teacher and we have enjoyed her posts over the past few months. Mia received umbilical cord blood stem cells for the treatment of Peripheral Lateral Sclerosis.
"My mom and several colleagues have told me that i seem to be walking better, that i walk more sure footed and with a straighter posture. I have more energy and am making it through my days and nights with more energy. And in the mornings as we head to the car and i maneuver over the curb without any help from Noah- we are not amazed- because we know in our hearts that the trip we embarked on back on June 6th was God’s will for our lives."
Lawrence E Brown III - ONH
Lawrence comes from El Paso, Texas and recently returned to the US after surviving 38 days of what the US media called a "risky" therapy toward the treatment of his Optic Nerve Hypoplasia. Follow along with his progress at his blog.
"Maneuvering on crowded streets and through obstacles had never been so easy for me. I thought this was cool. During my lesson I was also able to see if traffic was in the near or far lane. This will facilitate my travel on crowded streets and heavy business areas. These stem cells are working!"
Lawrence E Brown III (ONH) is Learning to Read Letters
Chengyang People's Hospital, Qingdao China
Spencer Tomc - Spina Bifida
Spencer is one of the first patients treated with Spina Bifida.
"Our Physical Therapist performed a Gross Motor Function Measure last week — almost six months after our first Stem Cell Treatment. She was surprised to see that Spencer can Initiate Hip Flexion — he can voluntarily lift up his legs at the hips. In the past, we have seen bits of that but it was completely sporatic and involuntary. Now, he can lift up his legs at will."
Rayanna - SMA Type II
"Rayanna is continuing to have good results. Last week, Rayanna was lying on the bed and the next thing I knew, she was standing up next to the side of the bed!!! She rolled over the comforter and a pillow to do this. She has never done this before. The stem cells are still working their magic!! I was so amazed. Rayanna is starting to try new things now that she can do this."
Miss September's Content?
Al Vergona retired early and evolved his passion for engineering photographic technology into painting. And he golfed. But when his golf swing declined he sought an explanation.
Today that explanation is known as Multiple System Atrophy. A condition which is described as a combination of ataxia, parkonsonism and autonomic dysfunction--any of which would challenge a man's enjoyment of retirement.
At the time of his interviews during treatment Al's diagnosis was Cerebellar Ataxia, a slower progressing neurodegenerative disorder. The speed of the disease's progression and MRI scans in China led to the new diagnosis.
Check out his patient experience here or go straight to his video here.
Darren Clarke Presents "Dakota's Story"
This month's patient-submitted video comes from Dakota Clarke and her family. Darren made this video to better tell Dakota's story and what his family is doing to help her.
Megan Traynor received adult stem cell therapy in Hangzhou for the treatment of Septo Optic Dysplasia. We recently brought news of Cody Clarke's treatment for the same disorder. Megan, at seven, has a few more years on her but we have been encouraged by the improvements her parents saw in her condition.
Check out her patient experience here or head straight to her video here.
Kit woke up in a burning vehicle and would soon undergo many surgeries to heal his broken back. For the treatment of his spinal cord injury he has endured tracheotomies and his current posture is aided by cadaverous bone transplants. He has now received two rounds of umbilical cord stem blood stem cells in China. A returning patient to Qingdao, here he talks about the improvements he's seen in his condition and his hope for the future of research as an active participant as patient and scientist.
Check out his patient experience here or go straight to his video here.
Brooke is the carrier of an exceptionally rare genetic disorder. Of the billions of people on the planet she is the 83rd known case. Her condition disrupts the transfer of glucose into the brain starving it of energy. This nutrient starvation leads to numerous symptoms.
In this video her mother talks about the condition and the improvements made in her daughter's quality of life over the course of her adult stem cell treatments in Hangzhou.
Check out Brooke's patient experience here or head straight to her video here.
Upcoming Content for November
Next month's featured video features a family's journey to China to treat a 21 year-old with Septo-Optic Dysplasia. We'll bring out more lost footage from the vault and we'll
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"...like it's your child's first step, first word, first tooth all rolled into one and the same day you win the lottery."
Darren Clarke, describing Dakota's treatment
A Call for Content - If you are a past patient and have video clips you'd like to share with us please let us know! Send us an email here.
We are here to bridge the gap between, researchers, scientists, laboratories, doctors, care providers and those seeking treatment; you. It is our goal to create a smooth road and easy travel between patients and the medical care they need.
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