N.D. man returns from stem cell treatment not allowed in the US

©WDAY TV

Published July 27, 2009

Fargo, ND – A south Fargo man is back from a trip to the Caribbean, but it wasn’t for pleasure. Kevin Scufsa hopes his time spent there saves his life. It is an update to a story we first brought you in February when friends rallied to raise money for Scufsa so he could get a stem cell treatment not allowed in the US.

Life threatening lung disease continues to zap Kevin Scufsa of energy. His children have all that. Just days after returning from the Dominican Republic and a stem cell treatment procedure, Kevin waits, hopeful.

Because the FDA has not approved the treatment in the US, Kevin joined other Americans in the Dominican Republic for the procedure. It is a better option than a double lung heart transplant because that is a coin toss.

“It is worth it no matter what. It is worth doing all the work and raising the money and trying the procedure. We had nothing to lose.”

The whole treatment will run more than $60,000. While it will take a few months to see if it takes, some tests reveal there is improvement.

“It is a little hard to wait I want to see some progress. Just let him rest before we see something.”

Scufsa plans on using his experience to urge lawmakers for changes in what is allowed in stem cell treatments here in the states.

More information on stem cell treatments and therapies around the world can be found here.

By Kevin Wallevand, WDAY