The Stem Cell Trekker » Germany

Kansas Paraplegic Traveling To Germany For Stem Cell Treatments

paulgochs — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:55:36 +0000

A Pittsburg, Kansas, man paralyzed from the waist down after a 2008 car crash, is trying to raise $16,000 to travel to Germany for stem cell treatments. Friends and family are helping 26-year-old wheelchair-bound Justin Pryor with a benefit dinner. Justin and his father will travel to Köln, Germany’s XCell clinic for the scientifically unproven procedure, which involves extraction of a patient’s own bone marrow stem cells and re-injection into the spinal fluid. Although the XCell center offers anecdotal evidence of some physical improvement with the procedures – e.g., regaining “sensation” in the limbs – it does not claim that anyone treated with stem cells at its clinic has ever regained the ability to walk.

Wash. State Man Needs $100K For German Stem Cell Treatment

paulgochs — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:02:53 +0000

A 23-year-old Bellingham, Wash., man suffering from idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, a form of heart failure, hopes to raise $100,000 to travel to the Xcell Center in Düsseldorf, Germany, to receive treatments using stem cells harvested from his own body. Erik Gelhar believes the controversial therapy will stabilize his heart and forestall the need for a heart transplant. The treatments were recommended by his cardiologist, who was unable to figure out why Gelhar contracted the disorder. The procedure is not only unproven, it is not covered by insurance. “This is a young man who has not had a shot at life,” his cardiologist said.” I’m supporting him having a shot at life.”

By Kie Relyea, “Bellingham man tries to raise $100,000 for stem cell therapy in Germany to stabilize his heart”, September 25, 2009, © The Bellingham Herald

Author Dominick Dunne Dies After Experimental Overseas Stem Cell Cancer Treatments

paulgochs — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:38:34 +0000

Experimental stem cell cancer treatments in the Dominican Republic and Germany failed to stem the progress of author Dominick Dunne’s bladder cancer. The 83-year-old former Hollywood producer died August 26. Like the late actress Farrah Fawcett, Dunne was treated unsuccessfully at Germany’s Leonardis Clinic in Bad Heilbrunn. The clinic nevertheless claims a high success rate. The U.S. FDA does not yet allow the use of stem cells to treat cancer because treatments have not proven universally safe or effective. “…[T]hose [countries] that are ahead of us in this area haven’t been able to show any real benefit, and I don’t think American patients are missing out on anything in this area,” said Dr. Stan Gerson, director of the Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine of Cleveland, Ohio.