Medical Bills (Stem Cell/Project Wa
Donation protected
Hello my name is William Watson. On June 11, 2013 I was in a motorcycle accident leaving me paralyzed from the chest down. I am a Thoracic 4 complete on the spinal cord . (SCI T4). Being a complete, I have loss of muscle movement, muscle control, sensation and body system control basically no function nor feeling what so every below my injury level. I have 12 screws and 3 rods in my back but it doesn’t stop me from going back to school (full time), being active with sports and the gym. I do the best I can with the ability I have and give 110%.
Before my injury I worked full time at Adler Display and was a part time student at Anne Arundel Community College majoring in Homeland Security Management and Logistics. I played recreational sports and participated in motorcycle charities rides (softball, flag football, golf, burn ride, rolling thunder ride for freedom). I love working out and eating healthy. I was and continue to be a gym nut -- not like a body builder, but more as an athletic body. I’m able to do upper body workouts with some adjustments due to my injury (pull ups, rope climb, army craw, pulling weights with my chair, etc.). Another love and passion was riding my motorcycle. If you have one, you know what I'm talking about. Nothing like waking up early on the weekend and cruise the back roads all day with some friends or just by yourself--that joy and feeling is unexplainable. It’s just something you have to experience. If you haven't yet, add it to your bucket list.
I’m asking for your help with donations to support my trip and procedure at the Stem Cell Institute in Panama City, Panama and Project Walk in Orlando, Florida for physical therapy after the stem cell procedure as neither is covered through medical insurance. It is very expensive and my family can't afford to support the two most important things that can change my life for better. Below is information about the Stem Cell Institute procedures and the benefits of physical therapy at the Project Walk in order to recover motor functions after the stem cell procedure.
1st stem cell procedure- $32,000
2nd " "-$18,000
3rd " "-$12,000
Not including condo stay.
Project Walk- $100 an hour
I'll be doing therapy for 2 hours, 3 days a week. It takes time, it can be 6months- 2 years, no one knows because every bodies are different.
There isn't a set date on when I will be done. Its a long road ahead of me. With my spinal cord injury level and being a complete, I will be needing the 3 stem cell procedures to get full mobility back and doing intense therapy at project walk. It's not going to be a walk in the park but with hard work and determenation, I will be back on my feet. 110% everyday, workout at project walk and on my time. There are no breaks, I have a goal and I'm set to meet that goal.
Stem Cell Institute, Panama
When the spinal cord is injured, the initial trauma causes cell damage and destruction, and triggers a cascade of events that spread around the injury site affecting a number of different types of cells. Axons are crushed and torn, and oligodendrocytes, the nerve cells that make up the insulating myelin sheath around axons, begin to die. Exposed axons degenerate, the connection between neurons is disrupted and the flow of information between the brain and the spinal cord is blocked.
Which types of stem cells does the Stem Cell Institute use to treat spinal cord injury and how are they collected?
The adult stem cells used to treat spinal cord injuries at the Stem Cell Institute come from two sources: the patient’s own bone marrow (autologous mesenchymal and CD34+) and human umbilical cord tissue(allogeneic mesenchymal). A licensed anesthesiologist harvests bone marrow from both hips under light general anesthesia in a hospital operating room. This procedure takes about 1 1/2 – 2 hours. Before they are administered to the patient, these bone marrow-derived stem cells must pass testing for quality, bacterial contamination (aerobic and anaerobic) and endotoxin. All donated umbilical cords are screened for viruses and bacteria to International Blood Bank Standards
How do the physicians administer these stem cells?
Stem cell treatment protocol for spinal cord injury calls for a total of 16 injections over the course of 4 weeks. The bone marrow-derived and umbilical cord tissue-derived stem cells are both administered intravenously by a licensed physician. They are also injected intrathecally (into the spinal fluid) by an experienced anesthesiologist. Intrathecal injection enables the stem cells to bypass the blood-brain barrier and migrate to the injury site within the spinal canal.
Spinal cord injury stem cell treatment protocol
The standard protocol takes 4 weeks
The first two days: medical evaluation, blood testing, and bone marrow collection
8 intrathecal (spinal canal) injections of expanded umbilical cord tissue-derived stem cells (2 per week)
4 intravenous injections (IV) expanded umbilical cord tissue-derived stem cells (1 per week)
2 intrathecal (lumbar puncture) injections of bone marrow-derived stem cells (during final week)
2 intravenous injections (IV) bone marrow-derived stem cells* (during final week)
19 physical therapy sessions (throughout stay)
Medical consultation for hormone evaluation
StemKine supplement (only after medical evaluation in Panama)
Published improvements include improved ASIA scores, improved bladder and/or bowel function, recovered sexual function, and increased muscle control.
Project Walk Orlando Florida
Phase I & Phase II: Development/Stabilization
The goal is to stimulate the nervous system with load bearing and active recruitment to develop joint stabilization.
Phase III: Strengthen
The goal in Phase III is to initiate muscle contractions through positional movement or stimulation
Phase IV: Function & Coordination
The goal here is to improve coordinated movement through all planes of movement and motion.
Phase V: Gait Training
We don't teach you to walk; we teach you the skills necessary to walk well.
The Project Walk Orlando Approach to Spinal Cord Injury
Hope of recovery
-Begin external stimulation for the nervous system to promote reorganization
-Remove clients from reduced gravity environment while working out
-Muscle contractions are increased and used to build muscle mass and control.
-Load bearing exercises are performed from day one
-Worse case result is the client is healthy and more independent
-Best case result is the client begins to regain function and continues to improve
Results in:
-Increased central nervous system activity
-Increased muscle mass
-Increased circulation
-Increased sensation in some clients
-Increased hot and cold in some clients
-Increased control of life
-Decreased pressure sores
I'd be happy to just feel my core again. You don't know how much you use your core (abs and lower back) until you lose it in an injury. More gain of my body, the better. I hope I have given you enough information about the Stem Cell Institute and Project Re-Walk to help improve my ability to live life.
Before my injury I worked full time at Adler Display and was a part time student at Anne Arundel Community College majoring in Homeland Security Management and Logistics. I played recreational sports and participated in motorcycle charities rides (softball, flag football, golf, burn ride, rolling thunder ride for freedom). I love working out and eating healthy. I was and continue to be a gym nut -- not like a body builder, but more as an athletic body. I’m able to do upper body workouts with some adjustments due to my injury (pull ups, rope climb, army craw, pulling weights with my chair, etc.). Another love and passion was riding my motorcycle. If you have one, you know what I'm talking about. Nothing like waking up early on the weekend and cruise the back roads all day with some friends or just by yourself--that joy and feeling is unexplainable. It’s just something you have to experience. If you haven't yet, add it to your bucket list.
I’m asking for your help with donations to support my trip and procedure at the Stem Cell Institute in Panama City, Panama and Project Walk in Orlando, Florida for physical therapy after the stem cell procedure as neither is covered through medical insurance. It is very expensive and my family can't afford to support the two most important things that can change my life for better. Below is information about the Stem Cell Institute procedures and the benefits of physical therapy at the Project Walk in order to recover motor functions after the stem cell procedure.
1st stem cell procedure- $32,000
2nd " "-$18,000
3rd " "-$12,000
Not including condo stay.
Project Walk- $100 an hour
I'll be doing therapy for 2 hours, 3 days a week. It takes time, it can be 6months- 2 years, no one knows because every bodies are different.
There isn't a set date on when I will be done. Its a long road ahead of me. With my spinal cord injury level and being a complete, I will be needing the 3 stem cell procedures to get full mobility back and doing intense therapy at project walk. It's not going to be a walk in the park but with hard work and determenation, I will be back on my feet. 110% everyday, workout at project walk and on my time. There are no breaks, I have a goal and I'm set to meet that goal.
Stem Cell Institute, Panama
When the spinal cord is injured, the initial trauma causes cell damage and destruction, and triggers a cascade of events that spread around the injury site affecting a number of different types of cells. Axons are crushed and torn, and oligodendrocytes, the nerve cells that make up the insulating myelin sheath around axons, begin to die. Exposed axons degenerate, the connection between neurons is disrupted and the flow of information between the brain and the spinal cord is blocked.
Which types of stem cells does the Stem Cell Institute use to treat spinal cord injury and how are they collected?
The adult stem cells used to treat spinal cord injuries at the Stem Cell Institute come from two sources: the patient’s own bone marrow (autologous mesenchymal and CD34+) and human umbilical cord tissue(allogeneic mesenchymal). A licensed anesthesiologist harvests bone marrow from both hips under light general anesthesia in a hospital operating room. This procedure takes about 1 1/2 – 2 hours. Before they are administered to the patient, these bone marrow-derived stem cells must pass testing for quality, bacterial contamination (aerobic and anaerobic) and endotoxin. All donated umbilical cords are screened for viruses and bacteria to International Blood Bank Standards
How do the physicians administer these stem cells?
Stem cell treatment protocol for spinal cord injury calls for a total of 16 injections over the course of 4 weeks. The bone marrow-derived and umbilical cord tissue-derived stem cells are both administered intravenously by a licensed physician. They are also injected intrathecally (into the spinal fluid) by an experienced anesthesiologist. Intrathecal injection enables the stem cells to bypass the blood-brain barrier and migrate to the injury site within the spinal canal.
Spinal cord injury stem cell treatment protocol
The standard protocol takes 4 weeks
The first two days: medical evaluation, blood testing, and bone marrow collection
8 intrathecal (spinal canal) injections of expanded umbilical cord tissue-derived stem cells (2 per week)
4 intravenous injections (IV) expanded umbilical cord tissue-derived stem cells (1 per week)
2 intrathecal (lumbar puncture) injections of bone marrow-derived stem cells (during final week)
2 intravenous injections (IV) bone marrow-derived stem cells* (during final week)
19 physical therapy sessions (throughout stay)
Medical consultation for hormone evaluation
StemKine supplement (only after medical evaluation in Panama)
Published improvements include improved ASIA scores, improved bladder and/or bowel function, recovered sexual function, and increased muscle control.
Project Walk Orlando Florida
Phase I & Phase II: Development/Stabilization
The goal is to stimulate the nervous system with load bearing and active recruitment to develop joint stabilization.
Phase III: Strengthen
The goal in Phase III is to initiate muscle contractions through positional movement or stimulation
Phase IV: Function & Coordination
The goal here is to improve coordinated movement through all planes of movement and motion.
Phase V: Gait Training
We don't teach you to walk; we teach you the skills necessary to walk well.
The Project Walk Orlando Approach to Spinal Cord Injury
Hope of recovery
-Begin external stimulation for the nervous system to promote reorganization
-Remove clients from reduced gravity environment while working out
-Muscle contractions are increased and used to build muscle mass and control.
-Load bearing exercises are performed from day one
-Worse case result is the client is healthy and more independent
-Best case result is the client begins to regain function and continues to improve
Results in:
-Increased central nervous system activity
-Increased muscle mass
-Increased circulation
-Increased sensation in some clients
-Increased hot and cold in some clients
-Increased control of life
-Decreased pressure sores
I'd be happy to just feel my core again. You don't know how much you use your core (abs and lower back) until you lose it in an injury. More gain of my body, the better. I hope I have given you enough information about the Stem Cell Institute and Project Re-Walk to help improve my ability to live life.
Organizer
William Watson
Organizer
Gambrills, MD
