Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplant Success Stories
Stem cell therapy has recently been under scrutiny as an immoral and unscientific kind of therapy. The proponents of this protestation say that tampering with the body's immune system is “playing God,” or at the very least, very hazardous. However, those in favor of stem cell research claim that it is the most risk-free, most successful way to protect lives from terminal diseases such as cancer. Most of the people who agree to it have direct experience with stem cell therapy. Here are some of the cord blood stem cell transplant success stories from people who have seen it work first-hand.
Just in case
A mother from Maryland had just given birth to a healthy baby boy, and she and her husband named him Max. Amidst plenty of controversies within the family, they decided to save his umbilical cord blood at a local cord blood bank, just in case. Little did they know that this would be the best decision they had ever made.
Max grew to be a healthy little boy, until at the age of five, he began to experience of recurring cough, colds and very high fever. Often, these discomforts would not allow him to sleep at night, so finally his parents decided to take him to the hospital. A number of tests were done to determine the source of Max's discomfort. Eventually, chest x-rays showed a growth around his lymph nodes, the first sign of the dreaded form of cancer known as lymphoma. His immune system had been severely weakened, rendering him defenseless from common illnesses. At this point, his parents decided that his saved cord blood should be withdrawn. Max began his therapy soon after.
Today, Max is a healthy seven-year-old, and his cancer is currently in remission. His parents have had another son since Max had his near-fatal run-in, and they decided to keep the baby's cord blood as well just in case.
Saved by the babies
A woman in California experienced a horrible car accident while driving to work one morning. The driver of the other vehicle was drunk and was on his way home when his truck rammed into the highway guardrail, right into the woman's car. The woman quickly underwent several surgeries and most of them were successful, except for the one that should repair her spinal cord. Doctors determined that she would probably never walk again.
One of her doctors suggested that she consider getting a stem cell therapy, so she contacted the local blood bank. Fortunately, the stem cell therapy worked for her. It helped repair her spinal cord and it allowed her to run, dance, and ride horses again, something she loved to do prior to her accident.
Kidneys and cord blood
A 67-year old man from Alabama who had been on dialysis for several years decided to try this therapy. His kidneys had deteriorated due to heavy drinking and consumption of salt-rich foods in his younger days, and was now paying the price. He consulted several doctors and they suggested that he try stem cell therapy. Now, it has been a year and a half since his therapy began and he is finally off dialysis. The doctors have told him that more than 80 percent of his kidney tissue has regenerated since he began his therapy.