18 years old, USA

Septo-Optic Dysplasia, Autism

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Medical History

Cassie was born with Septo-Optic Dysplasia, a congenital disease characterized by an underdeveloped septum and optic nerve which often causes vision impairment and hormonal imbalances. For Cassie this meant that she was completely blind, had severe hormonal imbalances and autistic behaviors. Her mother, Pamela, took her to many doctors and tried a wide variety of conventional therapies. None of them seemed to work. Pamela said that "by the age of 13, she was hitting herself, and her eye was completely swollen shut. So I took her to her pediatrician and he said it looks like she has a bug, like a flu bug, and he gave me antibiotics and sent me out the door.

"I left there in tears saying 'this is not a flu bug, there is something seriously wrong'. We battled that for 2 to 3 years. Another response was 'I don't know how you do it, it's got to be hard' but I can't crush that up in apple sauce and that sure the hell doesn't help me."

After Cassie's grandfather saw a news article about another girl with SOD going to China for stem cell treatment her mother starting researching this option. After talking with other parents who had taken their children to China, she decided it was right for Cassie.

Treatment in China

Cassie received 8 umbilical cord blood stem cell injections. She also received physical therapy, occupational therapy, electric wave therapy, and acupuncture.


Condition after Treatment

Pamela began to see some changes in Cassie while they were at the hospital in China. She said "We've found that when we were out in the area with all the couches at night time and they have all the lights on, Cassie just sat there 20 minutes with her head up in the air just kind of looking around. Something she has never ever done in 17 years."

When they returned home Cassie had further improvements particularly in her behavior and speech. Her mother told us how Cassie's teachers reacted to the changes saying "her speech teacher at school is so excited. She is now saying water, bathroom, and things are coming out more clear. There are times when all of a sudden Cassie will say things like 'grilled cheese' and it is like 'Oh my god,' you know it was perfect."

Concerning Pamela and Cassie's trip to China, Pamela said "What else can you do? you can't just sit back and keep trying different drugs that are just making it worse and as a parent I just can't accept that these cases are hard.

"Yeah they are hard, but it is my child and you will do any thing for your child. And if that means go to china and try something that everybody says doesn't work. What do you have to lose? and it did work. It brought sanity into my home."