P A T I E N T  E X P E R I E N C E – A T A X I A

NAME: Kymberly Graf 
    
COUNTRY: Canada   

AGE: 19

DIAGNOSIS: Spinocerebellar Ataxia 2

REASON FOR COMING FOR TREATMENT:  Kymberly’s family had a history of Ataxia and she had been feeling the symptoms for about 6 years. It had gotten to the point where it was starting to affect her studies at school.

START OF TREATMENT: April 4, 2006 Umbilical Cord Stem Cell and Nerve Growth Factor Injections with Rehabilitation Therapy

BEFORE THE TREATMENT:

Video: Before

Her speech was slurred.  She had difficulty walking straight, jerkiness in her arms and hand, and cramps in her legs. She had trouble focusing on things. She had trouble typing because her hand would jerk off the keyboard. 

AFTER THE TREATMENT:

See Videos: After 1, After 2, After 3,  After 4, After 5, After 6, After 7, After 8

Kymberly had an improvement in her balance. She could walk down stairs without holding on to the railing. She was able to spin around more easily. She could catch a ball more consistently. She could type twice as fast.

China Stem Cell News Note: Kymberly was very camera shy so we had to get most of the footage related to her improvements from her parents. Kymberly also did not get down to the rehabilitation room very often for rehabilitation. Her father, Tim, has said that since Kymberly has returned home, she has kept her improvements and when she does the exercises they were assigned, she gets more improvement.