Helping Other Children See

Sun-heraldBy Jason Witz Grandmother of Cameron Petersen wants to get government-funded umbilical cord blood bank to serve community Carol Petersen wants to help other children see.But it's going to take a lot of legwork and signatures.The Port Charlotte resident hopes to raise awareness about umbilical cord stem-cell research using her grandson's story of sight.Cameron Petersen, a 20-month toddler who is legally blind, has made significant progress since undergoing a stem-cell infusion in China last month.Now, the goal is to secure government funding to open a public umbilical cord blood bank in Charlotte County, providing other children with hope. The petition has already received hundreds of signatures."I'm trying to help all the other Cameron Petersens," his grandmother said.Cameron suffers from optic nerve hypoplasia, a leading cause of blindness in children. The condition causes underdevelopment of the optic nerve and can lead to permanent blindness.Doctors told Cameron's parents nothing could be done. The family began to research other options and found Stem Cells China, a research facility which has successfully infused stem cells into patients with numerous disabilities and diseases.Cameron traveled to China with his parents, Melissa VanGorp and Zachery Petersen, last month as part of a case study to treat his blindness with stem cells. These cells can develop into specialized cells and even repair tissue. The procedure, which isn't available in the United States, transplanted harvested umbilical cord stem cells into Cameron. It consisted of four stem-cell infusions to Cameron's arm and the lumbar region of his spine.By the third treatment, Cameron was standing on his own and crawling toward objects -- something he couldn't do before. Now, doctors say he can see about 1 1/2 feet, or to his knees.Since the treatment, Petersen said many families have contacted her about getting their children help.Petersen said the United States has several cord blood bank facilities, but most are privately operated and expensive."People shouldn't have to go to China for treatment," she said.The public, medical community and state and local government agencies are invited to learn about umbilical stem-cell research Nov. 3 at Gilchrist Park.The event will feature the success stories of Cameron and a girl from Missouri who can now see. Kirshner Ross-Vaden, one of the leading experts on umbilical stem-cell treatments, will discuss their stories.Petersen said she hopes to raise awareness about the petition to start a government-funded cord blood bank."If enough people want it in Charlotte County, we will make it happen," she said. "I'm not going to stop until I get it."For more information on Cameron's story or to sign a petition, visit www.cameronsmiracleofsight.com. Donations may also be made to the "Cameron Lee Petersen Trust" at any Bank of America. The money will help fund a hyperbaric oxygen chamber needed for Cameron's continued recovery.