Saturday, 21 July 2007
SOurce: Deseret Morning News By Kaye NelsonAMERICAN FORK — Many travelers to foreign countries have goals to see new sights and try exotic foods.Travis Ashton's goal was a bit loftier — to receive stem-cell treatments at a hospital in China to help recover from a brain injury he suffered in a car accident seven years ago. Travis, 18, and his parents traveled to Hangzhou, China, in June for a five-week stay at the Beike Biotechnology Clinic where Travis was to receive four stem-cell treatments. He received six. "We had planned on four, and he ended up having two more," said Missy Ashton, Travis' mother. "The theory behind that is the more stem cells there are, the more that can develop." Travis had all but one treatment through spinal injections. The last one was administered intravenously. "They like to do one in your bloodstream," Missy Ashton said. She said the adult stem cells are harvested from umbilical cords and there were 10 million stem cells in each treatment. She was counseled that much of the progress a patient sees comes within six months of having treatments. The signs of progress might seem small to those not close to Travis' situation, but his mother said he can do things now he couldn't before. "He started to have feeling in the back of his tongue," she said. "He has more control over his saliva. He drools, but that has decreased 75 percent." She also said Travis can drink water now, something he had been unable to do since his accident. He can open and close his eyes without using his hand to manipulate the eyelids, and his hearing has also greatly improved. "Once you build connections between nerves and the brain, you can build on that," Missy Ashton said. "Then it's about building muscles." Travis' father, Jed Ashton, returned after one week to care for the family's other children. He is happy for the changes but isn't sure where the progress comes from. "I can see some subtle differences," he said. "They could be from the physical therapy or the stem cells. I'd like to think the stem cells had some positive effects — I just couldn't say for sure." Travis' care while at the hospital included more than just stem-cell treatments. "They did speech therapy, massage therapy, physical therapy and acupuncture," Jed Ashton said. He added that Travis was scheduled for therapy all day long, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. some days, and that kind of rigor can't be duplicated here because of time, family and money. The $50,000 price tag for the trip, a good portion gathered through local fund-raisers, paid for Travis' treatments as well as airfare and food. Asked if Travis would return for more treatments, his mother said she's not over the jet lag of this trip but would consider it. "If it's helpful to Travis, I can't see that anything would stop us," she said. The good thing about returning to the clinic is that the cost of his treatments will never rise. "The prices go up every quarter," Missy Ashton said. "But once you've been, you are locked in at that price." The clinic in Hangzhou is Chinese-run, but the lab is run by Americans with many American doctors and researchers on site. She said the hospital had to open a second floor because so many people were there for the injections. Missy Ashton thinks stem-cell treatments will be available in the United States, not in her lifetime, but perhaps for her grandchildren. "I think that in the next 50 years or so there will be more done — more funding, more research," she said. "But it won't be available to this generation." She said many people assume nothing is currently being done in this country. "There's a misconception that the U.S. isn't doing anything, but they are, and President Bush is, too," she said. "It shouldn't be a political issue. It should just be common sense with some guidelines because there are ethical issues involved." The measures of progress Travis gained from his treatments mean a lot to him and his family. "In the rehab world, these are huge things," his mother said.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Family Pinning Hopes on Bid to Treat Jack
Thursday, 12 July 2007
Source: This is Scunthorpe.co.ukA FOUR-year-old Scunthorpe boy will start his revolutionary treatment for cerebral palsy tomorrow at the world-famous Beike clinic in China.Doctors in Hangzhou will make the first of a series of injections of cord blood stem cells into the spine of Jack Potter who was born a quadriplegic.During the treatment, which is not available in the UK, the stem cells flow directly into the brain.As previously reported, Jack's parents Andrew Potter and Jane Whitelock sought help from China after doctors told them there was no medical treatment for cerebral palsy, which is caused by a poor oxygen supply to the brain before, during or immediately after birth.Well-wishers financed the £20,000 trip which they completed at 12.30pm on Sunday, following a flight from Heathrow to Shanghai and a two-and-half-hour car journey to Hangzhou."It's an amazing set-up at the clinic which occupies the top floor of the Hangzhou General Hospital," Mr Potter (41) told the Scunthorpe Telegraph from the nearby New Century Grand Hotel."There are 12 families here at present, the majority of them Americans and Canadians. But we are soon to be joined by a family from Newcastle."Since Monday, Jack has been undergoing counselling and intensive physiotherapy, preparing for the first injection. He is not very happy about being in the hospital and having all the doctors and nurses around."But that is just Jack being Jack."We have found so many children who have improved during their treatment at the Beike clinic. It really is heartening."We believe we have chosen the best treatment for Jack. China is quite advanced in this field."It's blazing hot here in Hangzhou and the locals are obviously not used to seeing or having English people around."Everywhere we go they stare at us, but the people are friendly. We have only learned one word of Chinese so far - hello."During his month-long stay in China, Jack, a student at St Luke's Special School in Scunthorpe, will be treated with stem cells taken from the umbilical cords of healthy babies.His family hope these will develop into new nerve cells, repair brain damage and enable Jack to use his body for the first time in his life.The family also believe if the treatment works, it will open the doors for other cerebral palsy children in the UK.
Source: This is Scunthorpe.co.ukA FOUR-year-old Scunthorpe boy will start his revolutionary treatment for cerebral palsy tomorrow at the world-famous Beike clinic in China.Doctors in Hangzhou will make the first of a series of injections of cord blood stem cells into the spine of Jack Potter who was born a quadriplegic.During the treatment, which is not available in the UK, the stem cells flow directly into the brain.As previously reported, Jack's parents Andrew Potter and Jane Whitelock sought help from China after doctors told them there was no medical treatment for cerebral palsy, which is caused by a poor oxygen supply to the brain before, during or immediately after birth.Well-wishers financed the £20,000 trip which they completed at 12.30pm on Sunday, following a flight from Heathrow to Shanghai and a two-and-half-hour car journey to Hangzhou."It's an amazing set-up at the clinic which occupies the top floor of the Hangzhou General Hospital," Mr Potter (41) told the Scunthorpe Telegraph from the nearby New Century Grand Hotel."There are 12 families here at present, the majority of them Americans and Canadians. But we are soon to be joined by a family from Newcastle."Since Monday, Jack has been undergoing counselling and intensive physiotherapy, preparing for the first injection. He is not very happy about being in the hospital and having all the doctors and nurses around."But that is just Jack being Jack."We have found so many children who have improved during their treatment at the Beike clinic. It really is heartening."We believe we have chosen the best treatment for Jack. China is quite advanced in this field."It's blazing hot here in Hangzhou and the locals are obviously not used to seeing or having English people around."Everywhere we go they stare at us, but the people are friendly. We have only learned one word of Chinese so far - hello."During his month-long stay in China, Jack, a student at St Luke's Special School in Scunthorpe, will be treated with stem cells taken from the umbilical cords of healthy babies.His family hope these will develop into new nerve cells, repair brain damage and enable Jack to use his body for the first time in his life.The family also believe if the treatment works, it will open the doors for other cerebral palsy children in the UK.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Braille Institute's Blind Poster Child to Lead Local Vision Awareness Rally
Anony MouseProvided by the Winning Kids Club PUNTA GORDA — By the time 18-month-old Cameron Petersen leaves for China next month, he will have already impacted the future of Florida's blind children. The Port Charlotte toddler's first public appearance is at the press conference and Vision Awareness Rally to be held in conjunction with the Beginning Braille Summer Camp in Punta Gorda. Earlier this week, Cameron was named the poster child for the Braille Institute of Florida, who is sponsoring the camp and rally on Tuesday at the Bayfront YMCA Center, 750 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda. The public is invited, and both events are free, with tax-deductible donations accepted. Camp begins at 9 a.m. with bag lunch at noon. The rally in the parking lot starts at 11 a.m. Congressman John Lewis, a strong supporter of independence for the blind, is expected to travel to Punta Gorda and speak on behalf of blind children. Other invited guests are Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the Blind; John E. Jordan, practicing blind attorney from Orlando, as well as the United States' lead nurse in the stem cell treatment to correct some forms of blindness. Cameron was diagnosed with optic nerve hypoplasia, an underdevelopment of the optic nerve, during pregnancy. It is one of the three most common causes of visual impairment in children. He is traveling to China because there is currently no treatment in the United States to help Cameron. Studies show that vision disorders are the most prevalent handicapping condition for a child, because not being able to see alters how a child understands and functions in the world, and affects their emotional, neurological and physical development. According to the Braille Institute, in Southwest Florida alone, there are about 10,000 5-year-olds who have not had an eye exam; and 180,000 children failed an eye test, yet were not referred to an eye specialist. On the educational spectrum, even when a child is diagnosed and treated for blindness, only 6 percent ever learn to read Braille. The other 94 percent remain illiterate their entire lives. That's why the Braille Institute is on an intense campaign to teach beginning Braille and to raise money to purchase a mobile coach. According to the institute's president, Gail Ghigna-Hallas, they are in the process of negotiating for the mobile unit, which will be called "Good Bumps on a Roll," that would travel throughout Southwest Florida to conduct free eye exams for children. "We will offer free eye exams to children at birth, 6 months of age, and again at 2 years and 5 years," says Ghigna-Hallas, whose is a registered nurse and holds a doctorate in education and psychology, with an extensive advocacy background for people with disabilities, especially children. An injury three years ago took the sight in Ghigna-Hallas' left eye. "To promote vision education and blindness prevention among the public, (the mobile coach) will also contain a braille library and museum, braille book/toy store, and a classroom to teach beginning braille and guitar to blind children, as well as employ blind individuals," Ghigna-Hallas said. The Braille Institute currently operates in Lee, Charlotte, Collier and Hendry counties, and has received significant donations toward the project and grants from Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union, Duxbury Braille-Writing Systems, Enabling Technologies, local individuals and businesses, and continues to write grants to the Florida Department of Education, Division of Blind Services, Zonta Club of Bonita Springs, Kiwanis Club and others, until they have raised the $500,000 necessary to purchase the motor coach and get it up and running. Donations will also go towards the cost of Cameron's treatment and expenses. The Braille Institute of Florida is a United Way agency and division of the Winning Kids Club, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization offering children in Southwest Florida of all abilities and backgrounds instruction in beginning guitar, song writing, music, art, creative writing and rollerskating, as well as braille literacy and guitar lessons for blind and visually impaired children and braille for sighted slow readers to increase reading and other academic scores.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Trail Ride Fundraiser Planned for Local Toddler
Sun Intern By Teddi Thosath The tickets are purchased, about $20,000 has been raised, and for 18-month old Cameron Petersen's parents, the hope of seeing again is just a month and thousands of miles away. Cameron Petersen is a Port Charlotte tot who is legally blind due to Optic Nerve Hypoplasia, and is scheduled to fly to China on Aug. 6 for a case study to undergo umbilical cord stem cell surgery. Petersen's parents, Melissa VanGorp and Zachery Petersen, as well as his grandparents and the lead medical consultant with Stem Cells China, are all optimistic that the procedure will give sight back to the blind toddler. After about a month and a half of fundraising, the Petersen family has raised about $20,000 for the flight and surgery, about one-fifth of their goal. Michael Rudden, vice president of the Punta Gorda Horseman's Association, has organized a sponsored trail ride on July 28 to help raise money for Cameron. The rides starts at 9 a.m., with three different rides planned — the first one lasting an hour, the second two hours, and the third three hours. Trails will be marked for the rides, and all riders should be back by noon to meet the family. The ride is scheduled to take place at Deep Creek Reserve, Peace River Street, DeSoto County. A number of prizes are to be given away during the event, Rudden said, and everyone is invited. Nonsponsored riders over the age of 18 are asked to pay a $30 donation, and the request for those 17 years or younger is $15. For more information, call 941-639-4107 or e-mail
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"We are still chugging along, and the actual stem-cell part of it is now covered," Carol Petersen, Cameron's grandmother, said earlier this month. "He has his ups and downs. But I just feel really positive about all this." The treatment alone costs $15,000. An additional $10,000 to $20,000 is needed for a Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment chamber once Cameron returns home. The family is estimating $100,000 for the total expenses. When Cameron was diagnosed with ONH, a leading cause of blindness in children that also interfered with his pituitary gland, his parent's were told there were no treatments available. However, after researching online they found Stem Cells China, where they have successfully infused stem cells into patients suffering from numerous other diseases and disabilities. Stem Cells China has established a 98 percent improvement rate with patients undergoing treatment for other disabilities, according to the organization's Web site. This procedure, which is not available in America, takes harvested umbilical cord stem cells and, in a very technical process, the stem cells will then be transplanted into Cameron. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can replenish their numbers for long periods through cell division. Also, after receiving certain chemical signals, the cells can differentiate or transform into specialized cells with specific functions, according to Stem Cells China. The study is the first of its kind for ONH patients. The treatment includes four stem cell transfusions of 10 to 15 million stem cells each, Melissa VanGorp said. With each stem cell transplant, they also give the patient a transfusion of "neural growth factors" to encourage the stem cells to find their targets and transform into new neurons. After the treatments, Cameron will undergo intense daily therapy programs, which range from speech therapy to a type of Chinese massage, to promote the success of the procedure. "Now, we have the technology to help these children to see," Kirshner Ross-Vaden, the vice president of foreign patient relations and the lead medical consultant with Stem Cells China, said. "They don't have to go through their life blind. (But) no one knows for sure, someone has to go first. These kids are the pioneers. They may very well pave the way for all of the children of the future." Cameron is one of five children to undergo this treatment for ONH patients. Ross-Vaden, a registered nurse and a former Air Force medic, said Cameron will probably undergo lumbar puncture treatments, which inject the stem cells directly into the cerebral spinal fluid. The first couple of days, however, will be strictly for evaluations and tests. She said that, assuming everything with the medical section looks good, they will then proceed with the transplants. They are hoping that the stem cells will mix with Cameron's cerebral optic nerves and repair them. Ross-Vaden, who was in Chicago on Friday, said they are currently providing treatments to another child from the United States, and last month performed the procedure on a girl from Romania. "Right now the girl from Romaina's mom said she is responding more visually, but it's too soon to tell," Ross-Vaden said. She stressed that the procedures are safe and they only use umbilical cord stem cells, which have been used in this type of treatment for 20 years. Ross-Vaden believes the treatments are "extraordinarily safe," and has even undergone the treatment herself for a medical problem. "These kids are the first to come through with a primary diagnosis (of ONH). For the entire world, this has (previously) been called an untreatable diagnosis," she said. "I feel really really strongly that, historically, we have been wrong." Ross-Vaden first learned about stem cell treatments when her own son had a servere brain injury. Even with her medical research background, she found it hard to find reliable information to help her son. At the time, she took her son to Mexico for treatments. Unfortunately, she lost her son, but continued her work. Stem Cells China offered her a position to help expand their programs for children. For more about the treatment, visit www.stemcellchina.com. "This is a monumental step in medicine," Ross-Vaden said. "I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think it would be possible."
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"We are still chugging along, and the actual stem-cell part of it is now covered," Carol Petersen, Cameron's grandmother, said earlier this month. "He has his ups and downs. But I just feel really positive about all this." The treatment alone costs $15,000. An additional $10,000 to $20,000 is needed for a Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment chamber once Cameron returns home. The family is estimating $100,000 for the total expenses. When Cameron was diagnosed with ONH, a leading cause of blindness in children that also interfered with his pituitary gland, his parent's were told there were no treatments available. However, after researching online they found Stem Cells China, where they have successfully infused stem cells into patients suffering from numerous other diseases and disabilities. Stem Cells China has established a 98 percent improvement rate with patients undergoing treatment for other disabilities, according to the organization's Web site. This procedure, which is not available in America, takes harvested umbilical cord stem cells and, in a very technical process, the stem cells will then be transplanted into Cameron. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can replenish their numbers for long periods through cell division. Also, after receiving certain chemical signals, the cells can differentiate or transform into specialized cells with specific functions, according to Stem Cells China. The study is the first of its kind for ONH patients. The treatment includes four stem cell transfusions of 10 to 15 million stem cells each, Melissa VanGorp said. With each stem cell transplant, they also give the patient a transfusion of "neural growth factors" to encourage the stem cells to find their targets and transform into new neurons. After the treatments, Cameron will undergo intense daily therapy programs, which range from speech therapy to a type of Chinese massage, to promote the success of the procedure. "Now, we have the technology to help these children to see," Kirshner Ross-Vaden, the vice president of foreign patient relations and the lead medical consultant with Stem Cells China, said. "They don't have to go through their life blind. (But) no one knows for sure, someone has to go first. These kids are the pioneers. They may very well pave the way for all of the children of the future." Cameron is one of five children to undergo this treatment for ONH patients. Ross-Vaden, a registered nurse and a former Air Force medic, said Cameron will probably undergo lumbar puncture treatments, which inject the stem cells directly into the cerebral spinal fluid. The first couple of days, however, will be strictly for evaluations and tests. She said that, assuming everything with the medical section looks good, they will then proceed with the transplants. They are hoping that the stem cells will mix with Cameron's cerebral optic nerves and repair them. Ross-Vaden, who was in Chicago on Friday, said they are currently providing treatments to another child from the United States, and last month performed the procedure on a girl from Romania. "Right now the girl from Romaina's mom said she is responding more visually, but it's too soon to tell," Ross-Vaden said. She stressed that the procedures are safe and they only use umbilical cord stem cells, which have been used in this type of treatment for 20 years. Ross-Vaden believes the treatments are "extraordinarily safe," and has even undergone the treatment herself for a medical problem. "These kids are the first to come through with a primary diagnosis (of ONH). For the entire world, this has (previously) been called an untreatable diagnosis," she said. "I feel really really strongly that, historically, we have been wrong." Ross-Vaden first learned about stem cell treatments when her own son had a servere brain injury. Even with her medical research background, she found it hard to find reliable information to help her son. At the time, she took her son to Mexico for treatments. Unfortunately, she lost her son, but continued her work. Stem Cells China offered her a position to help expand their programs for children. For more about the treatment, visit www.stemcellchina.com. "This is a monumental step in medicine," Ross-Vaden said. "I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think it would be possible."
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Brave Jack Sets Off to China
Saturday, 07 July 2007
Source: This is scunthorp.co.uk A Brave four-year-old is on his way to China this morning to undergo pioneering treatment.Jack Potter, a pupil at the St Luke's special school in Scunthorpe, left home at 6.30am today to pioneer treatment in China for British children like himself who are born with cerebral palsy.On Thursday, he was joined at Scunthorpe's Warren Lodge pub by many of the well-wishers who made his ground-breaking trip possible by raising more than £20,000 in less than 11 months.Hosting the send-off party were Jack's parents, Andrew Potter and Jane Whitelock, of Sedgewood Way, Scunthorpe, who will spend a month with him at the world-famous Beike clinic."We have been absolutely amazed and overwhelmed by the response to our son's appeal," said Mr Potter (41)."We just cannot thank people enough for what they have done for Jack."At one stage we were going to take out a second mortgage on our home to pay for the trip - but then Jack's friends stepped in."Mr Potter said, since last summer, cash had been raised by teenagers on Lifestyle projects, youngsters, parents and staff at the Happy Stars playgroup in Scunthorpe, and regulars at the Warren Lodge and the First and Last, Kirton in Lindsey.The cash also came flowing in from a cabaret night and auction at Ashby Decoy Golf Club, a sponsored bike ride and a host of other events.This afternoon Jack, nephew of former Scunthorpe United footballer Neil Cox, and his parents will board their flight from Heathrow with the best wishes of Virgin Air boss Sir Richard Branson, who has arranged VIP treatment.Following their 13-hour flight, the family will be met by a chauffeur-driven car at Shanghai to cover the two-hour journey through China to the Beike clinic at Hangzhou.First thing Monday, Jack, a quadriplegic with no back support, will meet medical consultant Kirshner Ross-Vaden and his team to start a course of injections of cord blood stem cells in a bid to bring his body back to life.If the treatment is a success, the four-year-old from Scunthorpe will be the first-ever child from the UK to make the life-changing trip.Keeping his fingers crossed back home will be elder brother Matthew (14) who is on the books of Scunthorpe United FC.
Source: This is scunthorp.co.uk A Brave four-year-old is on his way to China this morning to undergo pioneering treatment.Jack Potter, a pupil at the St Luke's special school in Scunthorpe, left home at 6.30am today to pioneer treatment in China for British children like himself who are born with cerebral palsy.On Thursday, he was joined at Scunthorpe's Warren Lodge pub by many of the well-wishers who made his ground-breaking trip possible by raising more than £20,000 in less than 11 months.Hosting the send-off party were Jack's parents, Andrew Potter and Jane Whitelock, of Sedgewood Way, Scunthorpe, who will spend a month with him at the world-famous Beike clinic."We have been absolutely amazed and overwhelmed by the response to our son's appeal," said Mr Potter (41)."We just cannot thank people enough for what they have done for Jack."At one stage we were going to take out a second mortgage on our home to pay for the trip - but then Jack's friends stepped in."Mr Potter said, since last summer, cash had been raised by teenagers on Lifestyle projects, youngsters, parents and staff at the Happy Stars playgroup in Scunthorpe, and regulars at the Warren Lodge and the First and Last, Kirton in Lindsey.The cash also came flowing in from a cabaret night and auction at Ashby Decoy Golf Club, a sponsored bike ride and a host of other events.This afternoon Jack, nephew of former Scunthorpe United footballer Neil Cox, and his parents will board their flight from Heathrow with the best wishes of Virgin Air boss Sir Richard Branson, who has arranged VIP treatment.Following their 13-hour flight, the family will be met by a chauffeur-driven car at Shanghai to cover the two-hour journey through China to the Beike clinic at Hangzhou.First thing Monday, Jack, a quadriplegic with no back support, will meet medical consultant Kirshner Ross-Vaden and his team to start a course of injections of cord blood stem cells in a bid to bring his body back to life.If the treatment is a success, the four-year-old from Scunthorpe will be the first-ever child from the UK to make the life-changing trip.Keeping his fingers crossed back home will be elder brother Matthew (14) who is on the books of Scunthorpe United FC.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Blind Baby Will Get Stem Cell Injections
Friday, 06 July 2007
Source: WBKOA Bowling Green baby will go to China for ground-breaking stem cell research to correct his vision.Six-month-old Jackson Blackford bounces and squeals like any other happy, healthy baby, but what you don't realize is that he can't see.He has an under-developed optic-nerve, a condition known as optic-nerve hypoplasia."When he looks at something he doesn't pick up the image and send it to his brain so therefore it leaves him legally blind," explained his mother, Rachael Stayer.Jack's parents first realized something was wrong when he was three-months-old."We noticed that he wouldn't pay attention to his toys and his eyes would kind of dance around," Stayer said.His mother learned of the website www.stemcellschina.com. She immediately emailed the Chinese hospital that was looking for applicants in a special case study where doctors use stem cells from umbilical cords of healthy live-birth babies."We got the ball rolling automatically. They were really anxious because he's so young. It's going to make a big difference than if he were an older child," Stayer said.Jack was one of five children in the world selected for the revolutionary treatment. He will receive umbilical cord stem cells that will hopefully repair his optic-nerve and restore his eyesight."His father and I don't ever want to be in the position where we have to tell him we didn't do everything we possibly could for him," Stayer said.
Source: WBKOA Bowling Green baby will go to China for ground-breaking stem cell research to correct his vision.Six-month-old Jackson Blackford bounces and squeals like any other happy, healthy baby, but what you don't realize is that he can't see.He has an under-developed optic-nerve, a condition known as optic-nerve hypoplasia."When he looks at something he doesn't pick up the image and send it to his brain so therefore it leaves him legally blind," explained his mother, Rachael Stayer.Jack's parents first realized something was wrong when he was three-months-old."We noticed that he wouldn't pay attention to his toys and his eyes would kind of dance around," Stayer said.His mother learned of the website www.stemcellschina.com. She immediately emailed the Chinese hospital that was looking for applicants in a special case study where doctors use stem cells from umbilical cords of healthy live-birth babies."We got the ball rolling automatically. They were really anxious because he's so young. It's going to make a big difference than if he were an older child," Stayer said.Jack was one of five children in the world selected for the revolutionary treatment. He will receive umbilical cord stem cells that will hopefully repair his optic-nerve and restore his eyesight."His father and I don't ever want to be in the position where we have to tell him we didn't do everything we possibly could for him," Stayer said.
Optic Nerve Hypoplasia; Jackson Blackford
Blind Baby Will Get Stem Cell Injections
Friday, 06 July 2007
Source: WBKOA Bowling Green baby will go to China for ground-breaking stem cell research to correct his vision.Six-month-old Jackson Blackford bounces and squeals like any other happy, healthy baby, but what you don't realize is that he can't see.He has an under-developed optic-nerve, a condition known as optic-nerve hypoplasia."When he looks at something he doesn't pick up the image and send it to his brain so therefore it leaves him legally blind," explained his mother, Rachael Stayer.Jack's parents first realized something was wrong when he was three-months-old."We noticed that he wouldn't pay attention to his toys and his eyes would kind of dance around," Stayer said.His mother learned of the website www.stemcellschina.com. She immediately emailed the Chinese hospital that was looking for applicants in a special case study where doctors use stem cells from umbilical cords of healthy live-birth babies."We got the ball rolling automatically. They were really anxious because he's so young. It's going to make a big difference than if he were an older child," Stayer said.Jack was one of five children in the world selected for the revolutionary treatment. He will receive umbilical cord stem cells that will hopefully repair his optic-nerve and restore his eyesight."His father and I don't ever want to be in the position where we have to tell him we didn't do everything we possibly could for him," Stayer said.
Friday, 06 July 2007
Source: WBKOA Bowling Green baby will go to China for ground-breaking stem cell research to correct his vision.Six-month-old Jackson Blackford bounces and squeals like any other happy, healthy baby, but what you don't realize is that he can't see.He has an under-developed optic-nerve, a condition known as optic-nerve hypoplasia."When he looks at something he doesn't pick up the image and send it to his brain so therefore it leaves him legally blind," explained his mother, Rachael Stayer.Jack's parents first realized something was wrong when he was three-months-old."We noticed that he wouldn't pay attention to his toys and his eyes would kind of dance around," Stayer said.His mother learned of the website www.stemcellschina.com. She immediately emailed the Chinese hospital that was looking for applicants in a special case study where doctors use stem cells from umbilical cords of healthy live-birth babies."We got the ball rolling automatically. They were really anxious because he's so young. It's going to make a big difference than if he were an older child," Stayer said.Jack was one of five children in the world selected for the revolutionary treatment. He will receive umbilical cord stem cells that will hopefully repair his optic-nerve and restore his eyesight."His father and I don't ever want to be in the position where we have to tell him we didn't do everything we possibly could for him," Stayer said.
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