StemCellsChina would like to thank Claire Marsh for submitting this Patient Experience to us.

***2010 Update***

Check out Claire's new video shot during her second round of transplants. She talks about progress made in the previous year and what's happened in her life during the interim.

23, Australia

Primary Condition Name

Incomplete Paraplegia Due to Spinal Cord Injury at L1

Follow Claire's journey on her blog at StemCellsChina.

Claire's 2008 video at Vimeo.

Can't see the video? Click here to find out why.

Reason for Coming for Treatment

For the chance to regain any function possible esp. bowel and bladder

Condition Prior to Coming for Treatment

Prior to treatment I was three years post-injury. My injury was assesed as L1 ASIA A incomplete. My motor function was classed L2 and sensory level at L3.
I had no bladder or bowel function/ control. I had no movement below the knees, and significant weakness and paralysis in glutes, hamstrings, hips and abductor muscles. I had normal strength and sensation in knees, quads, adductors, abdominal and back muscles.
I had no sensation besides pressure below the knees and at the backs of my legs and my buttocks.
I had limited sweat function in lower limbs.
I could walk with the aid of two walking sticks and two ankle-foot orthosis (AFOs).
I did physiotherapy three times per week.

Experience During Treatment

I had 8 stem-cell injections: the first via IV, and the remaining 7 via lumbar puncture (6 injections were umbilical cord blood stem-cells and two were from my own bone-marrow).
Every day (except for weekends) I did two sessions of physiotherapy, one session of acupuncture, and one session of electric-wave therapy.

Condition Following Treatment

While still in hospital I regained some movement in my left ankle and toes (plantar and dorsi-flexion) and regained about 4cm normal sensation below my left knee, and about 2.5cm of normal sensation below the knee on my right.
On returning home I have noticed a significant decrease in lower limb spasticity and have been able to stop taking baclofen
I have also regained normal sweat function in lower limbs.