Carlie Smith

Age 9, USA

Septo Optic Dysplasia

Check out Carlie's video over at Vimeo here.

Reason for Coming for Treatment

Carlie has very limited vision. She uses many tools to help her see anything at all. Carlie was born with a malformation of the mid-line of her brain. This malformation produces many symptoms. Carlie's optic nerves are effected by this condition as well.

Carlie takes growth hormone due to limited protein production in her pituitary gland. She tested negative for Diabetes Insipidus, another common symptom of Septo Optic Dysplasia.

Carlie and her parents hoped that receiving adult stem cell therapy would help pull along the development of her optic nerves.

Treatment in China

Six injections of umbilical cord blood stem cells via IV and Spinal Injection.

Condition After Treatment

By the end of treatment Carlie and her family were recognizing changes in her optical abilities. Carlie and her mother speak about these improvements in their video and Rachel writes in Carlie's blog, "Her acuity did improve by about 1 foot in the left eye which is really good for that eye. Her left eye is the really bad one and she usually never depends on it. Also, her VER test showed improvement as well. This test shows how fast images get to the brain. Also, she was able to perform the peripheral vision field test after stems cells which she was not able to do before because she was just not strong enough to hold the eyes still."