Martin Bentler

Age 40, U.S.A

Ataxia

Condition Before Treatment

Martin Was diagnosed with Ataxia in his early twenties after he was having trouble with writing and walking backwards. He had formerly been an accomplished athlete but after his diagnosis all that changed. He explains, 

"I mean I could walk, on level ground. On grounds where you don't have to pick your feet up all the time. But there was no jogging, no hopping or anything like that. I used to do all that stuff when I was in high school"

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Since being diagnosed, Martin continued to seek treatment. He tried a few medications, but none of them were effective in slowing the progress of ataxia. During the last few years, he was not being given any new treatment options. 

When he heard that his cousin's daughter had come to china to receive stem cell treatment, he contacted patient representatives in China and decided to come as soon as possible.

Treatment in China

Martin received 6 umbilical cord blood stem cell injections. He also received physical therapy, occupational therapy, electric wave therapy, and acupuncture.

Condition After Treatment

Martin was one of the first patients to come to the St. Michael's Hospital in Shanghai for treatment. Though coming from rural Iowa to one of the biggest cities in the world was a bit of a shock, he quickly adjusted. He also found that the side walks in Shanghai were a good indicator of his ability to walk and balance. He explains, 

"All the sidewalks here are pavers, so it is a little bit different than walking on smooth concrete. That would have been a little more difficult before, because it is all uneven, but I have no problem with it now. I can tell just by walking around that I walk more fluidly, and I don't drag my feet which is really nice."

His family back home also noticed some differences,

"People I talk to back home, on the computer, they can already tell there is a noticeable difference in my speech. I'm not trying so hard to say the right things. Making so much of an effort."

He also has advice for anyone else thinking about treatment,

"I would definitely strongly try to persuade them to come to China. I just don't think they are going to have other chances, say with just prescription drugs. Whether it be in the states or wherever. So I would come to China again in a heartbeat."