Posted:
12/31/2009 12:08:04 AM by
| with
0 comments
Shane recently received his first Repair Stem Cell treatment for Spinal Cord Injury.
He has this to say...
Hello All,
First, let me begin by wishing all of you a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Holidays for all my friends of faith. Regardless of our individual beliefs, we all cling to hope of a better world and brighter futures for our children. Nowhere has this been more obvious to me than right here at the treatment center. I have been attended to by Buddhist, Hindus, Muslims and Christians. Different people of different faiths have all provided different services but with one common goal of rendering the best care for their patients. I am not about to deliver a sermon to anyone...God knows that I’m poorly qualified to do this. With the Holy season of Christmas fast approaching, it's just something I’ve noticed. Now some quick highlights and I’ll close with my Don't Be Stupid tag line.
The highlights:
I got my latest spinal tap this Friday. Unlike the other time, the Dr. had a difficult time inserting the needle into my spine. This time, they moved pretty quickly in the process of administering the valium. They did not wait until I was completely out. I was groggy, but awake...somewhat anyway. So, each time the surgeon would begin, I’d flinch and tighten my back and compress my spine. When this happens, it reduces the gap in between the vertebrae. This kind of makes it hard to accomplish the task without forcing it. I am sure that they did not want me to come all the way here just to go home in a wheelchair. Well it took four attempts, but finally, success. When the delayed drugs wore off...you can imagine the back pain I had.
With 3 more injections to go, I’m deliberating whether or not to go via the spinal tap method. We are all still adjusting and are adapting well. They really do try here and take their time explaining everything. One more thing I’ve noticed, the docs here are all polite and humble. Back in the US, I have run into more with a God complex than the healers they’re supposed to be. This is a society that's run for the most part by the govt. You will not become wealthy as a doctor here. If you choose to be a doctor in this country, your doing it purely for the passion of helping people...at least this has been my experience.
We continue to get new folks arriving every day. I do my best to meet them all. They come from all parts of the world. All of them are seeking the keys for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We have become a motley group of sorts...and i don't mean the glam band from the 80's. Yes, I was a fan. Now, that we've got another Shane confession out there, we can move forward. This place is more like Ellis island, with hundreds of families seeking one thing...much in the same way that so many immigrants sought a new future and freedom from persecution from their places of birth to our shores. Here at this place, many come seeking freedom from their physical limitations and afflictions.
Sadly, much like the story of our nation; some will not find the answers they seek or the relief they want. But the hope, the promise is enough for many of them to risk all that they may have for the children. You know, it's giving me a new appreciation for my parents and all the familiarity that they left behind, the risks taken so that their children may have a chance at a brighter future.
Many of the stories are downright tragic. There are victims of drowning, boating accidents, genetic conditions and others. Some families seemed to be especially hard hit. There's a Brazilian family here with not just one but three children that suffer from blindness and neurological issues that affect motor skills, speech, coordination and such. It has been emotionally draining for me with my swinging wildly from hope to despair and back again. One wonders what type of God would allow this to happen to the most innocent of his children. I don't have the answers to this question. I believe it's an individual quest with individual answers that will hopefully shed light prior to the end of our time here in this life. With most answers not crystal clear, we cling to the only thing that any of us really have...hope. Now I want to make my “don't be stupid” point. What I should say is” “Don't be like me.”
Prior to all this happening, I was always too busy to take more time with my wife, kids, family and friends. Work always seemed to come first, last and everything in between. It certainly was the case at my last place of employment. Nobody really knows what the future holds. So, don't be stupid. When your spouse suggests that the two of you get away for awhile…do it. When your kids would like you home to have dinner with you, leave the office at 5 so you can fight traffic and be there before the food gets cold. When your family and friends need you in their times of need, drop what you’re doing and show up and help them thru their most difficult times. When your aging and at times...crusty parents want you to come visit, go do it. Do it no matter what the costs are from the professional perspective.
Now, I know that we all need to work and provide for our families. What I’m suggesting is that we take the time to conduct audits from time to time. Track how your spending your time and with whom. We men need to be weary of the breadwinner trap. For me, the fact that I went to work to provide for my family, made me feel I was entitled to some things...right? The least of which was time for myself. You know, this is so much easier than the things my wife deals with everyday. The kids, doctors visits, countless trips to school because our lovable tornados left something at home...yet again, meetings with teachers...you Mom's know exactly what I’m talking about. If at the end of your audit over 60 days, your raw objective data proves that your heavily tilted towards work...and your spouse is beginning to give you that stare...then I suggest you look for work elsewhere. If they try to make you feel guilty or question your commitment to the company, let me ask you.
Do you really want to work for anyone that does not support your concern for your family? Often these companies make stupid short term choices, take poor risks, and make bold and unrealistic claims to investors and bankers. And when the money people come to call in their markers, the employees suffer and the families suffer. No amount of money or stock options are worth losing your relationships with your spouse, kids an family...trust me, I came close to losing all of it. Now, if you’re fortunate enough to work for a company or boss that not only talks the talk but also walks the walk of family values and corporate governance, hold tight with both hands. What you have there is more precious than diamonds. I am not talking perfection but striving everyday to do right by the people that make any business run.
But you know…God is good. In spite of my mistakes, my family and friends have stepped in to provide moral, financial, logistical and emotional help. All of you have been extraordinary. Each time of this year Bob with Cross would encourage me to focus on my family, hug on the kids until they fought to get away and hug them some more, spend time with my wife and really reflect on what I have to be really thankful for. You know, I can't really top that advice other than the fact I should have followed it much closer and sooner.
Take care my friends and loved one's. Thanks for being in my life please continue to pray for all those that maybe suffering, our leaders and...As a favor to me, give your families what I struggled so hard to give...
Your time.
I will write again soon.
Shane
Posted:
12/29/2009 8:20:24 PM by
| with
0 comments
I want to welcome you to the
STEM CELL TREATMENT FUND RAISING INITIATIVE and wish you and yours Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
Over the past year, many patients asked me for fund raising help and despite a ridiculous pre-existing workload, I could not deny their requests for help any longer. Well, no good deed goes unpunished! This little grass roots project created on a wing and a prayer and meant to help the few is quickly growing by leaps and bounds! There has been an incredible amount of positive response!
In the near future, I am going to expand the tactics and services available so all can participate with a variety of options, regardless of their budget or condition. I am looking forward to fact finding meetings coming up after the New Year with fund raising officers from the University of Pennsylvania and the Templeton Foundation. I'm also looking into setting up some raffles to generate donations for treatment. If anyone has new ideas on fund raising tactics, please let me know. If anyone has found something to work exceedingly well, please let me know!
Some of you may have already received the information below but I wanted to make sure everyone was on the email list so they could receive future mailings. Best of luck to all in their FUND RAISING endeavors and please let me know if I can be of further assistance!
Please email me at
dsgrano@gmail.com to receive the free primer:
Fund Raising Tactics for Stem Cell Treatments in WORD and PDF formats. Review the information within and contact me with any questions.
FYI, To find the best treatment center in the world for treating a particular disorder; fill out the treatment request form at the Repair Stem Cell Institute website:
http://www.repairstemcells.org/Treatment/Treatment-Request.aspx Your medical info will be sent to the top 8 treatment centers in the world and they will contact you shortly with information, costs, etc. if they meet your personal requirements. There is no cost for treatment request and info.
Also...
- If you would like to be signed up for a free one year subscription to my Stem Cell newsletter, reply with the word NEWSLETTER.
- If you want to purchase the world's first stem cell book for kids - http://bit.ly/StemCellBook4Kids
If you have any questions, feel free to email me.
Please keep me informed on your progress.
Best of luck -
David
dsgrano@gmail.com
Posted:
12/21/2009 1:18:30 PM by
| with
0 comments
PFIZER BUYS STEM CELL COMPANY ATHERSYS & Acquires Stem-Cell Therapy Product MulitStem
By ANDREW POLLACK
Published: December 21, 2009 - Pfizer said Sunday that it was buying the rights to a somewhat controversial cell therapy from Athersys, a biotechnology company — a sign of big pharmaceutical companies’ growing interest in (ADULT or REPAIR) stem cells.
Why is this controversial? There are no embryos involved. These are adult or repair stem cells. There are thousands of clinical trials and tens of thousands of scholarly papers showing their safety and efficacy. If a new cancer drug comes out that is not through all stages of clinical trials it is not controversial; why is this? -dg
Athersys’s cells, derived from human bone marrow (these are Adult or Repair Stem Cells, not embryonic - dg), have not yet been tested in people with inflammatory bowel disease, a term that encompasses
ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. But the product, called MultiStem, is in early human testing as a treatment for heart attacks and for
cancer patients receiving bone marrow transplants.
Pfizer will have the rights to develop Athersys’s cells to treat inflammatory bowel diseases, the companies are expected to announce on Monday.
CLICK PICTURE for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Colitis, Crohn's Disease Treatment Info
STOCK ALERT
Pfizer will pay Athersys $6 million initially and up to $105 million in the future. Athersys [ NASDAQ:ATHX ] soared as high as $3.95 today on the news and has leveled off to $2.80, a 180% gain by noon today.)
via
Pfizer Acquires MultiStem, a Therapy Based on Stem Cells - NYTimes.com.
For more info:
Posted:
12/11/2009 9:12:19 PM by
| with
0 comments
Nerve-cell transplants help brain-damaged rats fully recover lost ability to learnwww.sciencedaily.com
ScienceDaily (Dec. 11, 2009) Nerve cells transplanted into brain-damaged rats helped them to fully recover their ability to learn and remember, probably by promoting nurturing, protective growth factors, according to a new study.
via
HERE
Posted:
12/9/2009 10:15:41 PM by
| with
0 comments
Hodgkin's lymphoma cancer cells begin in a lymph node—often in the neck—then progress to other nodes.
...STEM CELLS KICK HODGKINS LYMPHOMA'S BUTT!
In 2003, 13 year-old Kirk Lee was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, a disease that affects the body’s lymph nodes.
Kirk Lee first noticed something was wrong when he detected a knot on his neck. His grandmother Carolyn Lee said he was taken to the hospital and consequently diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. He was immediately transported to Jackson for surgery to remove tissue from his lungs and undergo chemotherapy.
After receiving radiation, chemotherapy and some experimental treatment in Jackson, Lee still had third-stage lymphoma, meaning the disease was in his abdomen and his neck. (1)
When neither of those treatments was successful, he was taken for stem cell transplant therapy.
That stem cell treatment put his illness into remission.
* * * * *
To see if you are a candidate for stem cell treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma, click here [ REQUEST INFO ]
Hodgkin's Disease (After Chemotherapy)
via
story