" He’s tracking objects that he’s never tracked before, or anything ever. We know he had slight light perception, but now like you say he follows the ball. He follows a toy. Not very far away, but it’s a very good improvement. "
Tamara sat for an interview in Beijing China after receiving treatment at Bethune International Peace Hospital to the south of the city. Tamara wanted to see the Forbidden City and we've included footage we shot as we toured it together. Tamara also allowed us to include footage of her physical therapy program at Bethune in Shijiazhuang.
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Diagnosis
Tamara was involved in a single car roll over accident and broke her neck. The injury resulted in a C4-C5 incomplete spinal cord injury, quadriplegia.
Condition Prior to Treatment
Tamara is wheelchair-bound. Tamara told us, "I rely on caregivers to get me up and feed me. And do everything for me during the day." Tamara did not receive regular physical therapy or exercise prior to coming to China for stem cell treatments.
Treatment in China
Tamara received seven packets of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. Each packet carried over ten million cells. Two packets were delivered via a standard IV injection and five packets were delivered via lumbar puncture. While in China she received daily physical therapy, occupational therapy, and acupuncture.
Condition Following Treatment
Tamara noticed changes in her condition during treatment. She noted that “after the first two injections, and a couple days of therapy... my right arm was getting a lot stronger."
She continued, “after the third injection, I can feel a bit lower down on my back… and after another week of therapy, I was able to actually sit up and correct my position. And sit there without them holding onto me for a little bit."
Watch Brandon's video by clicking the Play button on the image here. Please give the video a moment to load in your web browser. For more videos from spinal cord injury patients in China check out StemCellsChina's Spinal Cord Injury Video Channel.
Condition Before Treatment
Two years ago, Brandon suffered a spinal cord injury in a motorcycle accident. This left him paralyzed throughout most of his body. After the injury he was “a C4-5-6 incomplete quadriplegic. That involves basically paralysis of the legs and paralysis to my fingers. Also I have undergone no surgeries, just physical therapy.”
After being frustrated by the lack of treatment options at home, Brandon began looking for alternatives. After finding out about stem cell treatment in China, he decided to make the trip across the Pacific.
Treatment in China
Brandon received adult stem cell injections including autologous bone marrow injections (stem cells taken from his own marrow), along with acupuncture, physical therapy and occupational therapy.
Condition After Treatment
During treatment at the hospital in Shijiazhuang, China, Brandon began to notice changes in his condition. “My abs, my back, that’s the major thing, being able to sit up and do little crunches here and there. I’ve lost weight since I have been here, which is great. And that is the main thing, getting that pressure off my spin is mandatory. Once I do that I think I will be able to sit up and maybe even push myself up.
Also, my triceps. I had zero mobility in my triceps and biceps, because of the level of my injury. It just cut right there, right where my triceps are. But now I’m actually able to throw a ball, imagine that. It’s not far, but I can throw it.”
For patients considering stem cell treatments in China, Brandon said “if I had to give advice to anybody out there I would say, get on up and come on through. You got to make your steps, make your strides...
“But for anybody out there who is thinking about, ‘oh I can’t do it, I’ll never be able to do this again, I’ll never be able to do that again,’ that’s BS. You just have to get up and do it. Once you do that, get that frame of mind, anything can happen. Miracles can happen.
“But I’m not looking for any miracle. If I do work I will get paid.”
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Michelle’s life changed one morning 3 years ago when she was involved in a serious car accident. She said that “on august 9th, 2007, I was going to work and a women ran a red light and T-boned me. I think her car flipped over mine after the impact. I was then air lifted to the Loma Linda Medical Center. I was in the ICU for surgery initially.
“I was perfectly healthy before this accident. I think I had seven surgeries after it. My aorta was just hanging on by a thread. I am very grateful for the physicians at Loma Linda for saving my life.
“Then I participated in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy. But they cut me off, they said that this was the best I was going to get. And I just did not believe that.”
After learning about stem cell treatment in China, Michelle quickly came for treatment in December 2009. She returned for another round of treatments in November 2010.
Treatment in China
Michelle received adult stem cell injections along with acupuncture, physical therapy and occupational therapy.
Condition After Treatment
While at the hospital for her first round of treatment, Michelle began to see changes in her condition. A welcome event for a spinal cord injury patient regaining control of their body, she said that during the first treatment in China “I urinated on myself and that had never happened before. A test for my bladder had been done before we went to China. I couldn’t release any urine or any water or anything like that.
“After stem cells the first time, I went back to the States and had the same test repeated, and I could urinate. I totally let loose all of the urine. And they were stunned, they couldn’t believe it. And now we are in the process of trying to train my bladder to let me know when I need to release.”
There were some other changes that occurred gradually only after she had returned home. She found that “in my back area I now have feeling in the T9-T10 area. I have consistent tingling going on in my legs and now in my stomach area as well. That never happened prior to coming to China. I didn’t have any tingling sensations.
“But the progression of feeling in my back, that was a gradual thing. They told us that that it would take between 3 and 6 months and that definitely was the case.
“And a couple of times when I was in physical therapy in the US, in August, my left toe moved a little bit. And in September, I got a little flicker of movement with my right toe. So I was pretty excited about that. I was pretty jazzed about coming back here for a second time.”
If you would be interested in learning more about treatments available for patients using adult stem cell therapies submit an inquiry to us today.
Jennifer's
accident occurred in 1982, while she was attending her high school
cheer leading practice. She explains, "I was flipping off somebody's
back but did not make it all the way around and hit my chin on the
mat," She suffered a C-6 spinal cord injury. After she went home
she was not independent and had to rely on her mom to help her with her
day-to-day life. Through traditional physical therapy she gradually
learned how to live an independent life.
Describing her
condition immediately before coming to China, she said "I had feeling all the way
down my legs, like a light touch feeling. No fine motor skills in my
hands. I can't tell hot and cold apart on my legs, and my sensation of
pain is different, it's a feeling of pressure not pain."
While
traditional therapies had helped Jennifer to be independent, she was
always searching for new treatments that would improve her quality of
life. She explained her mindset about coming to China
for stem cell treatment, "My first thought was that my injury is too
old and they are not going to be able to help, but they said that that
didn't matter. So of course that gives you all kinds of new hope."
