"I was amazed that almost all the top Chinese researchers [in] the regenerative medicine field had been educated in the US and the UK and gained extensive working experience there in cutting edge research"
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Dr. Halla Thorsteinsdóttir, McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health (MRC)
Divashana was born with a condition called Microphthalmia caused by the underdevelopment of the eyes prior to birth. In Divashana’s case this resulted in her being completely blind as well as having other developmental delays similar to cerebral palsy. These included cognitive delays such as trouble communicating and abnormal sleep patterns along with physical delays such as being unable to walk and high spasticity in her legs.
In South Africa, Divashana’s doctors could not offer her much beyond physical therapy. Her mother explains says that “after taking her to doctors and hospitals for many years, they eventually told us she wouldn’t be able to walk and it was quite devastating at first, because you are not really prepared for it. They are always telling you that maybe she will walk and maybe she will crawl and you wait and nothing seems to happen.
"We didn’t really take her for any other surgeries or anything, because no one ever advised us to because nothing else can be done for her.”
After hearing about a friend’s relative who had come to China for stem cell treatment, Divashana’s parents started researching adult stem cell therapies and finally decided to bring her in 2009. After experiencing good results during the first cycle of treatments they made a trip back again in 2010.
Treatment in China
Divashana has come to China twice for stem cell treatment. Both times she received adult stem cell injections along with acupuncture, physical therapy and occupational therapy.
Condition After Treatment
Divashana’s parents began to see changes in her while they were at the hospital. Her mother tells us “the spasms, we noticed it here, that her leg was straitening out. She wasn’t so reluctant with therapy as when we first got here, and when we got home it got better. We noticed the spasms weren’t so bad as they used to be. Because her legs used to be so stiff that it was hard to carry her, change her or put on her clothes. It was a little bit of a difficulty getting everything on. But it is not like that anymore.”
Her ability to communicate has also improved. Her mother says “It used to be very difficult communicating with her. She would cry and you would never know what she wanted. Whether something was painful, or she was hungry or she was hot. She would just cry continuously and you wouldn’t know what to do. But recently, she will moan and then she gets a word or two out about what she wants. If she is thirsty she will say 'juice'. If she is hot she will say 'air con'--because she does seem to know that as well. Or she asks for her toy or a specific song so you know she wants her music.”
After therapy her sleep patterns became more regular as well, which was a big help for her parents. “She never used to sleep before," her mother said. Before, "she would be awake all day, sometimes all night and then maybe the next day she would sleep. For you to be awake that many hours with her is very difficult. And we appreciate the fact that she sleeps now. So even if you get six hours, it is good for you.”
