November 2, 20178 yr They called today and set up the final steps, which are being evaluated by a neurologist, getting an MRI, and then being evaluated by an occupational and physical therapist, which all seem like technicalities because we've pretty much done all that and sent the paper work and records. All of that is happening next Wednesday (possibly Thursday, too) in Columbus, and then it sounds like I'll have to go out to San Francisco for the actual treatment, which shouldn't be long after. If you have a second, please say some prayers that it all goes smoothly, that I'm not the placebo, and that it works! Thanks!
November 2, 20178 yr Prayers for you that all goes smooth. Keep us posted & I will keep the prayers going.
November 2, 20178 yr Author Prayers for you that all goes smooth. Keep us posted & I will keep the prayers going. I appreciate it very much. This is unreal that it's even a possibility.
November 2, 20178 yr I appreciate it very much. This is unreal that it's even a possibility. What is best case scenario?
November 2, 20178 yr Author What is best case scenario? It rebuilds the parts of the brain that I'm missing and heals the damaged parts, which I found out that it could actually make my brain even better than it was (per a friend that works with stem cell treatment). My brain was far from fully developed (it doesn't fully develop until 25 or so) so it will be interesting to see if it's even better. That should mean walking and talking normally, as well as fixing my memory and other mental aspects (although I do remember some things PERFECTLY). This hasn't been done before, so it could be historic.
November 2, 20178 yr Author The stem cells being used come from blood plasma, just so no one thinks I support aborting babies since you can get stem cells from there, also.
November 2, 20178 yr Good luck BFritz. Just so everyone knows, stem cell treatments have been happening in other countries for a while now. There aren't many, if any, cases where it's helped paralyzed or seriously disabled people heal fully.
November 2, 20178 yr Good luck BFritz! I am curious to know why there has to be a placebo group for such an invasive procedure. The selection process seems so specific, that I would think that there is no doubt participants have brain damage. I know a control group is important in most studies, but still... It would be amazing to cure paralysis and brain damage. You are awesome and courageous to want to be a part of this. I sure hope and pray that you get the real stuff. If not, and it proves successful, will you be a candidate to get it down the road?
November 2, 20178 yr Prayers your way! By the way folks, if you have not done so already. PM @BFritz to get a copy of the story he shares. It is really powerful.
November 2, 20178 yr Good luck! Thoughts and prayers that all goes well and you achieve the results you're hoping for.
November 2, 20178 yr Author Good luck BFritz. Just so everyone knows, stem cell treatments have been happening in other countries for a while now. There aren't many, if any, cases where it's helped paralyzed or seriously disabled people heal fully. Thank you. I know that they have been happening in other countries, but I haven't seen it much, and it has typically only been in things like stroke patients and in older people. However, here is one from Beijing in 2011: Medical Condition before Stem Cell Treatment (SCT) for Sequelae of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) He could speak simple sentences, but his speech was slurred. He tended to repeat his words, and repeat himself to other people. It seemed very hard for him to concentrate. He also had difficulties with his orientation of place and time. He had poor imagination and learning ability. His movements were clumsy, especially movements of his left side left limbs. He presented with wide-based gait, because he was unstable on his feet. Medical Condition after Stem Cell Treatment (SCT) for Sequelae of Brain Injury After stem cell treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury, improvements were seen in speech, gait, memory, movements and learning ability. Since treatment he was able to speak clearer than before. He could pronounce words that were too difficult for him before. He speaks longer sentencesto people. Moreover, he can give better descriptions, with less repetition. He can walk much more steadily than before, with better balance control. Also, he can walk a straight line. His short-term memory is better and he learns faster than the time of admission. He is imagination is richer than before. His time and place orientation were also improved. I'm also hoping that our techniques and methods are more advanced than the rest of the world's, making anything that they've done minor in comparison to us. Also, I'm hoping that the fact that I'm so active and have been working out three-to-seven times a week for years helps with recovery after the treatment. I'm just missing pieces of my brain that tie everything together and tell my body how to do certain things, so I'm hoping that it can fill the holes and just improve on what is limited. It will also help heal the damaged parts, which my body does still function relatively well, so hopefully it won't need too much (although I am missing so much of my brain and it's so damaged that my doctor looked at my brain scan and said that, if he showed it to any of his colleagues that didn't know me, they'd assume it was the brain scan of someone who was dead or a vegetable :eek:). This is the first human trials here, and it has worked on mice, which a bunch of girls I've been with say that I'm a rat, so it should work on me........... wait....... what?! :lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2: Good luck BFritz! I am curious to know why there has to be a placebo group for such an invasive procedure. The selection process seems so specific, that I would think that there is no doubt participants have brain damage. I know a control group is important in most studies, but still... It would be amazing to cure paralysis and brain damage. You are awesome and courageous to want to be a part of this. I sure hope and pray that you get the real stuff. If not, and it proves successful, will you be a candidate to get it down the road? Thank you very much! I have no idea why they have to have a placebo for this, either. A placebo is used to see if there's improvements because someone believes that they actually did receive the treatment or if they just improve naturally, but no two brain injuries are alike, so results would seem inconclusive, and plus my brain isn't going to suddenly regrow the parts I'm missing and be able to make me walk and talk normal again just because it thinks that I might have received a treatment. I'm not sure if I'd be a candidate to get the procedure down the road if I do happen to be the placebo, but I would hope so. I need to go out to San Fran once a month for a year after the treatment, so it wouldn't be until after that, it at all. I'm hoping that this starts a chain of it being common in the country somewhere down the road. That's the main reason I want this, and here's the top three reasons that I do want this: 3. For me. It would be amazing to be "normal" again or even more normal, but I love my life as-is and I never expected or even believed that something like this would ever become available. 2. For my family. This would be #1 because I don't mind being this way, but the way that it has changed my family's lives and makes them have to alter their lives to help me absolutely kills me. The only reason that's not #1 is my family is amazing and it's just a part of life, so it's not like they were sitting around waiting for a miracle, either. I am somewhat independent, but I still rely on my family for a lot, and me being even more independent would make their lives a lot easier. 1. The main reason I want this, as I said, is for how much it will help other people in the future and change the way people with traumatic brain injuries live. As I said, I love my life as-is and my family is amazing, but to be able to change the world in that aspect and to change the lives of so many people is just unbelievable to even think about.
November 2, 20178 yr Author Good luck BFritz. You will certainly be in my prayers. I appreciate it more than you know.
November 2, 20178 yr Best of luck to you on your journey, BFritz! You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
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