Frank Pot



66, 

The Netherlands



Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease



Check out Frank's video on Vimeo here.

Medical History



In 2007, Frank started having trouble walking and had pain in his legs. When he went to the hospital he was informed that he had the hereditary condition Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). In patients with the CMT mutation, the myelin sheaths which cover nerve axons fail to grow correctly. This results in a loss of motor function and sensation, which starts in the feet and hands, and can slowly affect other parts of the body.



Though he had had the mutation for his whole life, this was the first time Frank he found out about it. As his walking became worse, he was more and more depressed over his decreasing autonomy, especially when he was no longer able to drive. However Frank is not the type of person to give up so easily. He started intensive physical therapy and was able to begin driving again shortly with the use of specially designed foot braces.



Overall Franks symptoms were typical for CMT. His feet were particularly weak and he could only walk while wearing braces. His hands were also becoming weaker and were losing sensitivity, particularly between hot and cold water.



Condition Before Treatment



Though he was doing well in his therapy Frank wanted to do more for his quality of life. His wife learned about stem cell treatments offered in China on the internet. Always adventurous, Frank did not let this chance pass him by and registered for treatments as soon as he could.



Treatment in China

Frank received 5 umbilical cord blood stem cell injections (2 intravenously, 3 through lumbar puncture). He also received physical therapy, occupational therapy, electric wave therapy, and acupuncture.




Condition After Treatment



After a month of treatment, Frank felt that he was beginning to feel improvements. The most important was that his balance improved. While in the shower, he experimented by standing with his eyes closed and was able to do so for about a minute, something he hadn't been able to do over the past three years. With the help of the physical therapists at the hospitals he was learning how to walk straight and without the aid of his braces.



With a combination of stem cells and hard work, he was ready to live his life in his own terms. In his words,

"I think I have a good chance, but I am am not thinking it is, I am thinking it can be. I think that the possibility to improve is there. Most of how I improve is up to me. How do I deal with my disease. Not only the stem cells, but how do I keep on moving, my mind is also very important for healing."