The Stem Cell Trekker » Optic nerve hypoplasia

Texas Girl Aiming At China For Stem Cell Treatment

Paul — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:16:26 +0000

On a swing with her parents at her side, 3-year-old Alexia Magallanes smiles and bounces around.

“She likes music,” said her dad, Gerardo Magallanes.

But when she was 2 months old, doctors noticed something was wrong. Little Alexia suffers from optic nerve hypoplasia.

“It’s the underdevelopment of the optic nerve. It wasn’t developed right when I was pregnant,” explained her mom, Elizabeth Cruz.

Alexia can sense light but can barely see shadows. She is not potty trained and cannot talk.

“It’s a daily struggle with everything. It makes obstacles a lot harder, you know, as far as dressing her, feeding her,” Cruz said.

There are not many treatment options for her in the U.S., let alone El Paso, Texas. So Alexia’s parents are raising money to go to China for stem cell treatment.

“It’s kind of sad that we have to go all the way to China, you know, to find some kind of treatment for my daughter, when here in the States they said there was nothing they could do for us,” said Magallanes.

In fact, their doctors are advising them not to go. But this time, hope trumps the doctor’s orders.

“It’s an opportunity for her to maybe gain some vision, some sort of vision even to be able to see our face would be very, very heart taking,” said Magallanes.

Cruz said their daughter will need about eight stem cell injections, which will cost about $32,000. They also need money for food and travel expenses. They are trying to raise $60,000 by June of 2011 to take the trip. So far, they have raised about $5,900.

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Texas Teen Says Stem Cell Injections Have Improved His Vision

amyryan — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:48:04 +0000

An El Paso, Texas, teenager left mostly blind since birth by optic nerve hypoplasia will be returning home at the end of August after spending two months, and $60,000, receiving stem cell treatments in China. The 16-year-old says he has begun to see colors and objects better. The treatments consisted of acupuncture, electric wave therapy, intravenous stem cells, and finally stem cells delivered via a needle into his spine. His Chinese doctors said his vision has improved after eight stem cell injections. “Today, I was able to see a candy wrapper on the floor. This is really exciting news and after this it will only get better,” Lawrence Brown wrote in his blog.

Blind Woman’s Family Raising Money For China Stem Cell Trip

amyryan — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 22:17:51 +0000

The family of Brandi Benger, legally blind since birth because of a congenital disease known as optic nerve hypoplasia, is trying to raise $36,000 to pay for a trip to a Chinese clinic for eight stem cell treatments. Beike Biotech in Shenzhen, China, will provide the stem cells, which are derived from human umbilical cords, for the 35-day treatment period. According to Brandi, at least 90 percent of the 40 people who have received the Chinese stem cell treatments for her condition have experienced improved vision. “I have a really good feeling about it,” Benger said. “I’m going to get there one way or the other.”

By Hayley Kappes, “Blind woman seeks stem cell treatment in China”, © Killeen Daily Herald, August 1, 2009