U.S. Spinal Cord Injury Patient Documenting His Stem Cell Plus Epidural Stimulation Treatment

BANGKOK, July 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Quadriplegic Jack Pearce is set to undergo a new medical procedure that he is hoping may transform his life. Jack and his wife Ellie arrived in Bangkok, Thailand on July 5th, 2015 for a procedure which utilizes an implanted epidural stimulator to allow Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients to voluntarily move their limbs. This procedure also includes adult mesenchymal stem cell therapy. This combination had dramatic results in two previous patients, with results showing in weeks rather than months as outlined by Dr. Torsak Tip-Pairote.

The epidural stimulator is the latest device produced by Medtronic while the adult mesenchymal stem cells were produced by Beike Biotechnology and will be injected by intravenous injection and lumbar puncture via their SCI treatment protocol. Under this protocol, Jack will also be receiving the recommended physical and occupational therapy, nutrition counseling, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, acupuncture, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and aquatherapy under the functional medicine program provided with his stem cell treatment.

While Jack is confident in this procedure, he also faced challenges that many others in the SCI community face when looking for medical options. Jack noted, “throughout my research into stem cells and epidural stimulators I have been frustrated by the near total absence of well-documented case studies and/or progress reports. I understand that patients are excited at first and then lose focus on updating their status. One of my objectives for undertaking these modern procedures is not only to improve my condition but to also validate or dispel them for the benefit of the SCI community as a whole. Based on my own research I am very optimistic of the results and have no hesitation in pursuing these treatment options.”

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Jack will stay in Bangkok at Better Being Hospital for a total of 60 days and aims to continue his evaluation of the treatment after arriving home. Stem cells are widely known to continue differentiating for a duration of around 6 months, so some results may continue to develop after leaving Thailand. Jack stated, “I am also exploring the development of a baseline assessment, defined rehabilitation program and periodic assessments with Brooks Rehabilitation in Jacksonville, Florida. I am prepared to share and to have conducted upon me American Spinal Injury Association assessments, motion studies, magnetic resonance images and monthly or quarterly videotaping of my physical abilities.”

Beike Biotechnology is also conducting a video documentary while Jack is in Bangkok and will continue to work with him and the respective associations going forward to complete their patient evaluation program. Jack recognizes that, “Each patient is different and the results for seemingly similar conditions may be different. We know the entire SCI community is starving for information on these extraordinary procedures.”