Source: The Daily Gleaner

By Jennifer Dunville

J.C. Haas says he feels too young to use a walker, struggle to climb stairs or run out of energy for his three children.

That's why the 40-year-old is making a second trip halfway around the world for experimental stem-cell treatments.

Haas has a rare, life-threatening illness that causes brain cells responsible for his movement and muscles to deteriorate.

There's no cure for the hereditary disease, but the costly and controversial stem-cell treatments, available only in China, have proven to temporarily rebuild some of his destroyed brain cells.

Haas said he hates being away from his children, but doesn't want to let the disease get the best of him.

"I'm making a second trip because I want to gain back some of what I've lost over the last eight months since the first treatment," Haas said.

"It's hard to be away from the kids, but I'm doing it for them. I don't want them to see me get worse."

Last year, the Geary community where the Haas family lives raised thousands of dollars for the $30,000 treatment.

Haas and his wife Cherie were able to spend 35 days in China for his acupuncture, intensive physiotherapy and six injections of stem cells harvested from donated umbilical cords.

Cherie Haas said the community raised so much money they were able to save some to use toward a second trip to China for the treatments this year.

"We know it's not a cure, but what it does is sort of set back the clock," she said.

"It gives J.C. some of the abilities back that the disease took away."

One year ago, Haas was using a cane and had difficulty swallowing and speaking clearly.

He struggled to play with his children without falling.

The treatment he received in China gave him better balance, took away the slurred speech and allowed him to stop using a cane for about eight months.

"Since the last treatment, the cells he had injected have died off, so he's back to about where he was last year," Cherie Haas said.

"It's frustrating for him and really difficult for the kids to understand why he can't play with them like he did just a few months ago."

J.C. and Cherie Haas have booked appointments for five injections in China and plan to fly out by March 9.

They will be in China for 25 days.

"Cherie's mother will look after the kids while we are gone," Haas said.