At the beginning of the year I was rejected for a medical trial,in Panama, using stem cells. My EDSS (disability score) was too high. This was mainly because I was unable to walk. Life has a way of surprising us, at the beginning of October I received a phone call from the medical trial asking if I would like to be in it. I was confused after already being rejected and said "but I can't walk". It was on this day my life changed. Dr. Fernandez informed me that the parameters had widened and due to my exceptional health, I was in.
The icing on the cake was that I was being brought in to the trial under their scholarship, but I had to be in Panama in October! Over the next four days a lot had to be accomplished. I had to get all the required medical information they needed to them, including blood-work and then discussed with Chris all the hows. First and foremost could we afford it. Even though the medical portion was paid for We still had to figure out how to pay for a hotel room for 10 days and the Airline fair. Then there was the matter of whether or Chris and Owen were coming with me or just Chris. Which then created a whole bunch of other questions, would we want both of us going in regards to Owen, our 7 year old or who could travel with me instead? This is not a suspense novel so, long story short Chris and I, my mother, Chris's parents and lastly but not least Chris's good friend (and now mine) Keith all got together and made my trip happen!
Over a 10 day timeframe, I receive 7 IV injections of 20,000,000 cord blood stem cells, totaling 140 million stem cells. This medical trial was different than the private pay treatment I received in 2009. There has been a lot of progress in this field since then, which only confirmed how I felt after my 2009 experience. At that point they were still harvesting And injecting the patients constant cells derived from that back into them. I also received some cord blood stem cells, just nothing like this time. A question that has been put to me, "has been been any difference in the two treatments,?".
In 2009 it was about 2 IV injections between 3 and 6 million along with 3 we stand along with physical therapy. In the first week I received the cord blood stem cells and shortly after noticed improvement in my vision. I then received my own stem cells back after undergoing Lipo section. Now for those who know me they laugh at this wondering where the fat came from..
