Reason for Coming for Treatment: David came to China for stem cell transplants in 2006. Having survived a spinal cord injury and drowning in 2002 along with numerous complications in the following years, David came to China ready for anything. His first patient experience can be found below (THE FIRST TIME IN CHINA).
While he continued to see improvements from the first round of transplants up to his return in 2008 he had hopes to see another great leap forward. Particularly, David sought continued improvement in his vision alongside increased muscle control in his left hand.
Treatment: Umbilical cord stem cell and nerve growth factor injections with rehabilitation therapy
Start of Treatment: April 29th, 2008
See David's clips combined and subtitled into one video (and streaming) on Vimeo and YouTube.
Before the Treatment: In the past year and a half David had turned his life around. He had seen a great increase in upper body strength and control culminating in the ability to walk unassisted in aqua-therapy. His muscle spasms and pain were reduced. His vision had improved to where he could use his computer, watch TV and recognize faces of people around him. His breathing had improved along with his speech.
Email for David on January 19, 2009
I have some amazing news to report. I have spoken before about how much my vision has improved but today my improvements were confirmed by my ophthalmologist. In January of 2007 I had my eyes examined and even though my vision had improved from the first round of stem cells my test results revealed that my vision was only 20/100 which is legally blind. Since my second round of stem cells that I received in May of 2008 I've noticed remarkable improvement in my vision. When the doctor's assistant came in the examining room I told him of the journey to china and how much the stem cells have helped me. I asked to have my vision tested as I thought that I might be a candidate for glasses. He turned the lights out in the room and I started reading the chart from the top down. He was excited as I could successfully read most of the letters on the lower section of the chart. When the doctor came into the room he told her how far I was able to read and she looked at me in disbelief. I was in my wheelchair which was high and closer to the eye chart than the examining chair. The doctor had me transferred from my chair to the examining chair and she conducted the test once again. She was thrilled at the results. My left eye had improved to 20/50 and my right eye was 20/30. She kept repeating that this was a miracle and wanted to know more about the stem cell treatments that I received. They repeated the test one more time to verify the results. I can't begin to express what it's like to go from being totally blind in 2002 to regaining the gift of most of my vision back in 2009! I am hopeful that the stem cells will continue to heal my body and improve my vision in the coming year.
David's medication regimen was scaled back significantly along with the host of medical devices he had used regularly. He no longer used an oxygen machine, a pulse-ox machine, or a suction machine. Upon arrival he took four pills daily, down from eleven, and used a nebulizer and a bi-pap. The nebulizer immediately broke and David found himself not needing it either.
Six months prior to his June return, David gained control enough to drive his wheelchair himself. But David had a clear goal and was determined to do all he could to reach it. He wanted to walk again. And, as he's careful to point out, walk on land. A quadriplegic walking in water is only one milestone toward that goal.
During the Treatment: David reported an increase in his vision after his return. He began to see colors again. In physical therapy he worked to increase muscle control in the fingers of his left hand and saw improvements there. On the mat in PT he began doing buttock-lifts for the first time raising his lower back and buttocks a few inches. He also knelt for the first time in six years. It was exhausting therapy but worth the effort. David saw improvements in his breathing and speech, particularly in the absence of the nebulizer he'd carried with him for years.
After the Treatment: David's first post-treatment milestone was the ability to close the fingers of his left hand. Prior to stem cell transplants in 2006 David could not move his fingers at all. One of his stated goals this year was to control his fingers enough to feed himself and better control his laptop, increasing his independence and ability to work. David hopes that the improvements in muscle control will continue.
REASON FOR COMING FOR TREATMENT: David fell off a boat into shallow water on May 25, 2002, and a metal part of the boat hurt his neck. He was underwater for several minutes. In going to China for stem cell treatment, David hoped to improve strength and mobility in his trunk, arms and legs, and improve coordination including vision, hearing, and restoring movement in hands and feet. He also hoped to ease issues arising from the injury including painful muscle spasms, difficulty breathing, pain in his neck, lower back and foot, and partial loss of vision and hearing.
TREATMENT: Umbilical cord stem cell and nerve growth factor injections with rehabilitation therapy
START OF TREATMENT: September 4, 2006.
BEFORE THE TREATMENT:
David had minimal movement in both arms and in his left leg, and no movement whatsoever in his hands or right leg. He had regained some upper body strength in rehab but still could not stand - he could bend at the waist and had some strength in his trunk, but very little stability. He also had a great deal of pain in his neck, lower back, and left foot. He required constant in-home nursing care. His blood pressure was very low, such that he needed a pacemaker to prevent passing out. His vision was restricted to vague shapes in black and white. His hearing was overwhelmed with background noise. He had become overweight from lack of mobility, which further complicated efforts to stand on his own strength.
AFTER THE TREATMENT:
David is now able to read at close distance and watch television. He can grip things with his hands, which helps him to drive his wheelchair, and he can also flex his wrists back and forth. He feels stronger in general and can sit up from a reclined position, pull his legs up to his buttocks and raise them straight up in the air. He can breathe easily unassisted while lying on his back.
Update May 8, 2007:
David is now able to walk across a swimming pool in 4 1/2 feet of water with no assistance, and to stand up in 3 1/2 feet of water for several minutes. His spasms and pain have decreased significantly. He has lost 20 pounds and continues to strengthen his body.
