Extended Family of Six Canadians All Improve their Quality of Life with Stem Cell Treatment in China.

See Patient Experiences: Timothy Graf, Kymberly Graf, Keith Graf, Brian Knoublach, Valerie Crowter.

See Tim and Kymberly's Blog.

Shenzhen Beike Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Beike) announced the successful treatment of a family of six related Canadians all suffering from Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2 (SCA2), a debilitating disease characterized by general slowing of some of the body’s normal processes.  The six relatives, ranging in age from 19 to 51, all recorded significant improvements in their quality of life after receiving treatment with stem cells at the Nanshan Hospital in Shenzhen, China.  The announcement comes one month after the last relative comfortably reached home in Canada. 

In April 2006, Beike provided umbilical cord stem cells to treat 45 year old Timothy Graf and his 19 year old daughter Kymberly, who traveled from their home in Saskatoon, Canada to Shenzhen, China for the procedure.  While Tim was only beginning to feel the effects of SCA2, his daughter had already experienced symptoms for nearly 6 years, making bodily coordination difficult and affecting her studies at the University. Both father and daughter underwent the same treatment consisting of injections of umbilical cord stem cells intravenously and into the cerebral spinal cord fluid.  The treatment took place over a one month period and included daily rehabilitation therapy. 

Encouraged by Tim and Kymberly’s improvements during their treatment and suffering from the same disease, Tim’s brother Keith Graf (44) and cousin Brian Knoblauch (48) immediately made plans to go to China, arriving at the end of their treatment term in April. Tim’s cousin Val Crowter and her son Jason, also suffering from Spinocerebellar Ataxia, arrived in June for treatment after contacting Tim and hearing the encouraging news.  Due to national regulations, none of the 6 patients could receive treatment in Canada.  All of the six had seen doctors in Canada, but each was told that there was nothing that could be done to treat the disease in North America.  While they all had the same hereditary disease, their symptoms were slightly different with each at different levels of progression. 

Tim Graf said "I have seen my relatives suffer from this disease and pass away after doctors in Canada said there was nothing you can do.  Well we did something and it seems at least for now, it has given all of my relatives some improvement in life quality and some hope.  I doubt we will be the last of our relatives to get this treatment"

Treatments for leukemia and other diseases with umbilical cord blood stem cells have been performed for years.  However, the treatment of stroke patients, spinal injury patients, and those with other neurological diseases with stem cells from human umbilical cords has only recently become popular.  Today, treatments for neurological diseases using umbilical cord blood is being taken forward by countries outside the United States, including China, as FDA approval takes longer.
 
Tim Graf felt improvement in energy, walking upstairs, balance, and in his ability to focus on objects for longer periods of time.  Tim’s daughter Kymberly Graf improved her speech, walking, balance, and ability to type.  She also lost much of the starry-eyed look associated with Ataxia.  Keith Graf also lost the starry-eyed look and improved his stability.  Brian Knoblauch was relieved of all of his muscular cramps, which had been bothering him for over a decade. His speech and balance also improved. Val Crowter was able to get rid of most of the cramps that had bothered her for years as well as improve her walking and speech. She was able to write her name for the first time in a long time as well.  Her son Jason’s writing also improved along with his balance and his speaking.  Most of his cramping also disappeared.

Charlene Toop, Brian Knoblauch’s wife said, “When Brian came home, I noticed some real changes. I couldn’t hear him walking about the house any more since he stopped his usual manner of walking on his heels.  His speech improved greatly and he started carrying cups of beverages without spilling them, although he still pretends to shake once in awhile though when he wants me to bring him coffee down to the basement. I am just happy that he is better, so I pretend to believe him and oblige."

Val Crowter said, “When I heard my relatives had gone to China and had such good results, I thought I would go and try. And I am thankful that I did as these cramps have been bothering me so much for so many years. I still have some in my hands and feet but I can tell you its like night and day, and I am sleeping better than I have for years.”

Dr. Sean Hu, chairman of Beike, said, “After seeing the results for Tim and Kymberly, we were pretty confident that the rest of the family members would show improvement since they were related and all had the same genetic disease.  In fact, so far all of the Ataxia patients Beike has treated have seen improvement.  Although positive treatment effects do not always last, we are very happy Beike could make such a difference in the lives of this great group of relatives.