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Septo-Optic Dysplasia Is Treatable Now - With Adult Stem Cells
A young girl with Septo-Optic Dysplasia (SOD) can see for the first time after receiving stem cell treatment using cord blood stem cells. Scarlett Birkmire, 3, from Maryland is further proof that people with Septo-Optic Dysplasia and Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH) can be helped with adult stem cells. Previously, before this stem cell therapy was available, people with these conditions were told by their doctors that "there is nothing that can be done" for their child.
Optic Nerve Hypoplasia and Septo-Optic Dysplasia Helped By Stem Cell Treatment
Scarlett's mother, Rachel first read about a new treatment for optic nerve hypoplasia and septo-optic dysplasia about 1 year ago using adult stem cells in China. She did plenty of research and contacted multiple families who had previously been to China for the same disease and therapy.
What Is Septo-Optic Dysplasia?
SOD and ONH are conditions in which the optic nerve fails to develop thus leaving the person blind or with severely limited vision. Before this stem cell treatment in China was available, there was nothing that doctors could do to help. Since the therapy was made available, many youngsters like
Macie Morse, the young girl from Colorado with ONH who can now drive after the stem cell research and treatment and
Lawrence Brown, a young man from Texas who also has improved greatly.
From the
stem cell news article:
Two days after the first treatment, Birkmire and her mother noticed that when they went outside, Scarlett would shield her eyes, indicating to them she had light perception. "When we would go for a walk, she was looking up and around instead of looking down," which she typically would do. "She recognized when lights would turn on and off." Scarlett also became fascinated with a child's MP3 player with a small blinking blue light, holding the blinking light up to her eye for long periods of time.
"We spent so much time testing her, to see what she could do and couldn't do," Birkmire said, noting they videotaped some of Scarlett's reactions. "Movement was the next thing we noticed. I started to wave at her; now she waves to herself." Scarlett's crawling improved "because she had a purpose to moving. When you do things like put a toy somewhere, without making any sound or mentioning it, and she finds it ... it's impressive."
Birkmire said there were a lot of emotional moments during their 36-day stay in Qingdao.
Since returning home, Birkmire said Scarlett is a bit more active and has wanted to eat more. Until recently, Scarlett was on a liquid diet. Now she can eat pureed table food, similar to stage 2 or 3 baby foods. "In stores, she reaches for items on shelves, which she never did before. If it's within 2 feet, without hesitation, she finds what she wants."
Remaining optimistic, Birkmire knows it's difficult to test or assess just what level of vision Scarlett may have. Before treatment, Scarlett's right eye "wandered a lot. Now she can focus and (her eyes) can move simultaneously, something impossible for her to do before," Birkmire said, something Scarlett's ophthalmologist also observed during a recent eye exam.
Others Helped By Stem Cell Research Using Cord Blood Stem Cells
Others with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia or Septo-optic Dysplasia who have had similar stem cell success stories are Hayley Pelletier
Hayley's mother says : It's been incredible," Pelletier said. "Basically, her whole quality of life was just bumped up 110 percent. She's so much happier.
Among many others, there is also Cameron Petersen. Cameron's grandmother says :
By the third treatment, Cameron was standing on his own and crawling toward objects -- simple tasks he couldn't do before. Now, family members say he can see at least 10 feet, and is attending school.
"Cameron has made huge improvements," said Carol Petersen, the boy's grandmother. "There was nothing for Cameron before this treatment. Now, his world is limitless."
USA Protecting The Blind From Stem Cell Treatment
What is sad is that all these children have to go to China to get help. The doctors in the USA will tell them there is nothing they can do and try to "protect" them from the new treatment in China by telling them it is unproven. However, the only thing this accomplishes is to protect them from improving their eyesight. Until the United States starts treating patients with adult stem cells, these kids will have to go to China and other foreign countries to get the right therapy to improve their quality of life.
Are you or a loved one interested in receiving stem cell treatment? For free treatment information, please fill out our
treatment form or email me don@repairstemcells.org and just put TREATMENT in the subject box.
are told by their doctors that their condition is untreatable other than some medication that will help control their symptoms. Their doctors say that their lungs will never get better. However, thanks to stem cell research using adult stem cells, lung disease patients now have a chance to improve their condition.