" I was bowled over. They didn't have patients who were totally paralyzed and then get up and walk. But there were people who couldn't hold objects, and then they could after the operation. "
DIAGNOSIS: Huntington’s Disease (2002) REASON FOR COMING FOR TREATMENT: Norma was diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease in 2002. Even though her doctors only gave her three years to live she has survived with the disease for five years. She had been following the advances in stem cell treatments for several years and finally could not wait any longer for the treatment to become available in the US. She saw that clinical trials were done in the US many years but before but for some reason the treatment had not become available to the general public. She wanted gain back her independence and improve her overall quality of life after the treatment. TREATMENT: Umbilical Cord Stem Cell and Nerve Growth Factor Injections with Rehabilitation Therapy START OF THE TREATMENT: August 15, 2007
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BEFORE THE TREATMENT: She had a lack of balance and had difficulty controlling her movement. She would often fall or have accidents and injure herself. Before the treatment she had to use a cane to walk and was recently forced to stop driving. Her speech was also erratic and slurred.
AFTER THE TREATMENT: She was able to start walking without using a cane. Her overall balance and mobility improved greatly. For example, she was able to jump over barriers. Her speech became less slurred and she was able to write more clearly. She was also able to lower her dosage of Clonapam, which she takes to calm down her movements, because her balance and control of her body were greatly improved.
