Adult Stem Cells Help Cure For Motor Neurone Disease Patient
Jan 23, 2010
Don Margolis asked:
Wales native, Michael Epps was just a normal 21 year old, playing soccer everyday while working in a warehouse. In 2007, unfortunately, for no apparent reason, Michael started suffering from horrible pains throughout his body. The doctors examined him thoroughly and gave him the dreaded diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease.
A disease that normally occurs in people over the age of 60, Epps is believed to be one of the youngest patients ever to suffer from Motor Neurone Disease. The complications of Motor Neurone Disease include muscle deterioration, loss of mobility, and the disease eventually affects the ability to breathe, speak, and swallow.
Luckily, Michael’s parents came up with a plan. After doing some stem cell research on the internet, they saw that adult stem cells were helping patients with similar conditions to Michael’s. Therefore, when Michael’s sister Rhys was born, they froze the umblicial cord stem cells extracted from the cord blood. Later on, the cord blood stem cells along with Michael went to China where a stem cell doctor implanted the matching cord blood stem cells into Michael’s spinal cord.
It took almost 6 months, but eventually Michael began to see signs of improvement. These days, although not yet 100%, Michael’s condition has stopped deteriorating and now he is actually improving. There is much more definition in his muscles and he doesn’t need a wheelchair anymore.
Michael’s doctors believed Michael would have died in March 2008 and while the future is still unknown for Michael, he has plenty of hope now and is still trying to improve his quality of life.
Wales native, Michael Epps was just a normal 21 year old, playing soccer everyday while working in a warehouse. In 2007, unfortunately, for no apparent reason, Michael started suffering from horrible pains throughout his body. The doctors examined him thoroughly and gave him the dreaded diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease.
A disease that normally occurs in people over the age of 60, Epps is believed to be one of the youngest patients ever to suffer from Motor Neurone Disease. The complications of Motor Neurone Disease include muscle deterioration, loss of mobility, and the disease eventually affects the ability to breathe, speak, and swallow.
Luckily, Michael’s parents came up with a plan. After doing some stem cell research on the internet, they saw that adult stem cells were helping patients with similar conditions to Michael’s. Therefore, when Michael’s sister Rhys was born, they froze the umblicial cord stem cells extracted from the cord blood. Later on, the cord blood stem cells along with Michael went to China where a stem cell doctor implanted the matching cord blood stem cells into Michael’s spinal cord.
It took almost 6 months, but eventually Michael began to see signs of improvement. These days, although not yet 100%, Michael’s condition has stopped deteriorating and now he is actually improving. There is much more definition in his muscles and he doesn’t need a wheelchair anymore.
Michael’s doctors believed Michael would have died in March 2008 and while the future is still unknown for Michael, he has plenty of hope now and is still trying to improve his quality of life.
Posted by admin |
Categories: Stem Cell Research |
