Source: City News

For most of us, a trip to China would be the journey of a lifetime.

For Shannon and Erica Deering of Port Perry, it was the journey for their lives.

The sisters were left paralyzed after an auto accident three years ago.

In late 2005, they decided to take action on a diagnosis that threatened to leave them in a wheelchair for good.

Their goal for the long trip: stem cell treatments they believe could restore some of the stilled movement in their arms and legs.

But because of the controversy surrounding the procedure, they were forced to head to Shenzhen in Hong Kong for the delicate operations.

They returned Wednesday night, with smiles on their faces and assurances the trip was well worth the cost.

Twenty-one-year-old Shannon claims she's been able to change her posture since the injections started five weeks ago.

"I'm able to sit up a lot straighter in my wheelchair, and I think it's improved my circulation," she maintains. "And I actually feel warm for once like not as cold as I usually do. So I've had some positives."

Younger sister Erica hasn't been as fortunate, but believes her progress will come. "I think my circulation has gotten better because my legs have been warm to touch and my feet have actually been sweating, which isn't supposed to happen." she adds.

She's not willing to give up, because what she observed while she was there was nothing short of incredible.

"I saw miracles happen pretty much before my eyes," the 18-year-old recalls. "Like they get there and they can't move their arms at all and then after one treatment and a couple days they're able to move their arm. I mean that's just unbelievable."

The sisters had to leave the country to get the treatment, because doctors aren't allowed to perform it here. Both are happy they spent the $20,000 each it cost to get the treatments - money that comes with few guarantees. But surgeons here admit they want to examine the pair to see what their efforts really did.

Shannon is sure it was all worth it.

"Once in a lifetime," she marvels. "I don't know even know how to put it into words."

And for two people who can barely move, they're certainly getting around.

The sisters plan to continue their next round of stem cells treatments, possibly in Costa Rica. By then, they believe the first round will prove that all the time, money and hopes were worthwhile.