" The staff at Beike in Xiao Shan Zhejiang hospital are world class. All of the doctors, nurses, and therapy staff were very caring, helpful, and took very good care of our son while were there. We are very grateful to have such a good experience. "
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Condition Before Treatment
Jennifer's
accident occurred in 1982, while she was attending her high school
cheer leading practice. She explains, "I was flipping off somebody's
back but did not make it all the way around and hit my chin on the
mat," She suffered a C-6 spinal cord injury. After she first went home,
she was not independent and had to rely on her mom to help her with her
day to day life. Through traditional physical therapy she gradually
learned how live an independent life.
Describing her
condition immediately before coming to china, she said "I had feeling all the way
down my legs, like a light touch feeling. No fine motor skills in my
hands. I can't tell hot and cold apart on my legs, and my sensation of
pain is different, it's a feeling of pressure not pain."
While
traditional therapies had helped Jennifer to be independent, she was
always searching for new treatments that would improve her quality of
life. She explained her mindset about coming to China
for stem cell treatment, "My first thought was that my injury is too
old and they are not going to be able to help, but they said that that
didn't matter. So of course that gives you all kinds of new hope."
StemCellsChina would like to thank Claire Marsh for submitting this Patient Experience to us.
***2010 Update***
Check out Claire's new video shot during her second round of transplants. She talks about progress made in the previous year and what's happened in her life during the interim.
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23, Australia
Primary Condition Name
Incomplete Paraplegia Due to Spinal Cord Injury at L1
For the chance to regain any function possible esp. bowel and bladder
Condition Prior to Coming for Treatment
Prior to treatment I was three years post-injury. My injury was assesed as L1 ASIA A incomplete. My motor function was classed L2 and sensory level at L3. I had no bladder or bowel function/ control. I had no movement below the knees, and significant weakness and paralysis in glutes, hamstrings, hips and abductor muscles. I had normal strength and sensation in knees, quads, adductors, abdominal and back muscles. I had no sensation besides pressure below the knees and at the backs of my legs and my buttocks. I had limited sweat function in lower limbs. I could walk with the aid of two walking sticks and two ankle-foot orthosis (AFOs). I did physiotherapy three times per week.
David Aldrich sent us a short clip of his first attempts at standing in over six years. Here is the letter he sent along with the clip.
Hi Everyone,
Today was truly a day of Thanksgiving for me. I went to therapy for what I expected would be my last day of gait training. They hired a new therapist who is 6'5'' and strong enough to handle my weight. After three sessions of standing in the gait machine he felt that I had the potential to try and stand up without the machine. On the first attempt he said I was able to bear between 50-75 percent of my weight. On the second attempt he told me I was on my own and that he was only using his hands to balance me. Then he wanted me to try to stand from a seated position which is shown in the attached clip.
It was decided that I have the potential to pursue my goal of being able to walk on my own. With the help of Michael, my new therapist, that goal has become more realistic than ever! My stem cells are really working overtime. Thanks to my family for always being there to support and to all of you who gave me encouragement along the way!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dave
Check out the video below and follow David through his Patient Experience and past videos here.
