Stem Cell treantment for Lungs

My Story

Hello Everybody,

I recently had a cough I could not get rid over for the past 13 months, the cough was nothing new since every year I got one, and I just thought I would have to wait for nature to take its course before it went away.  As the coughing became more pronounced and only increased, my sister encouraged me to see a doctor in march 2016. ( I was coughing since August 2015).

It was a long process, intially my doctor gave me standard medication, but once that did not work, she sent me for x-ray, then she sent me to a lung specialist who in turn sent me for a cat scan, blood test, and numerous other diagnostic test which I have taken over many months. Finally, after reading the results of my cat scan in July 2016, my lung specialist sent me to a lung surgeon for a lung biopsy, finally getting the results of the biopsy on October 3, 2016 he told me I had
" idiopathic interstitial lung disease " ,  and I am at 40% of my lung capacity. 


My Choices!

Since, interstitial lung disease may also develop without a known cause, and in that case it is known as idiopathic. The most common form of idiopathic interstitial lung disease is pulmonary fibrosis. As interstitial lung disease is a progressive disorder, identifying a known cause for the disease is especially important. 

A lung transplant was suggested but the mortality rate is short lived and very costly.
I have found a less invasive procedure of new cutting edge science which will have a greater odds of success. For those of you, who know me, you know I have a engineering and medical background and I am astute in my research.

I have found since the  disease is idiopathic, stem cell treatment for lung disease, and other forms of regenerative medicine have been found very beneficial.

What I decided to do...

I have researched and found out that the Lung Institute in Nashville, Tenn. offers stem cell treatments for interstitial lung disease. The stem cells used by the Lung Institute are autologous, which means they come from the patient’s own body. The stem cells are extracted from bone marrow or the patient’s blood (venous) depending on the patient’s current condition and health history.

Adult stem cells have the capacity to form many types of differentiated cells, so when the stem cells are returned to the patient, they will target the damaged tissue, which leads to improved lung function in patients with a chronic lung disease. Our minimally invasive, outpatient stem cell procedures are changing lives by helping patients breathe easier.

Once the desired volume of stem cells are available, they are extracted from the patient’s blood or bone marrow. The stem cells are isolated and returned to the patient intravenously or through the use of a nebulizer. Once the cells are returned to the patient, they may begin to slow down the progression of the disease. Since stem cells can continually replicate, the lungs can progressively grow stronger, and patients may see restored lung function.

I still feel young and vibrant, except I now know I have this debilitating disease, because of my condition and numerous medical consults, 

I have been unemployed this past years and my medicaid health insurance does not cover the cost of stem cell therapy, as outlined below.

Bone Marrow (More aggressive treatment) - $12,000 or Double Venous but a more aggressive version. This is for patients who don’t qualify for Bone Marrow) - $12,000

The addition  $5,000 is for Airfare travel and lodging for me and my sister Claudia,  who will accompany me, for support we will stay at a low coast, hotel, rent a car, meals, gas as I would have to got to the Lung Institute Clinic loacted In Nashville, Tenn. 

Stem cells are the building blocks of life–essential to every organism. They self-renew and replicate, with the ability to form any type of tissue in the body. Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells, meaning that cells from one part of the body can transform their function to that of other types of tissue, a quality known as plasticity. Plasticity is the key function of stem cells in regenerative medicine.

According to the Lung Institute by using bone marrow to harvest stem cells, I wil have the opportunity to breathe easier and regain a addtional 20% of my lost lung function enabling me an addition 5 to 6 years longevity. This two-part outpatient procedure is minimally invasive and is completed over the course of three days. Each day will require me to be several hours in the lung clinic office where the stem cells will be harvested, processed and reintroduced into my body. After reintroduction, the stem cells will begin to promote healing and improve my lung function as the lungs are a natural strainer for stem cells.

My Bone marrow contains a much greater number of adult stem cells than found in peripheral blood. The amount of stem cells harvested from a bone marrow procedure have proven to result in a high patient success rate and a significant improvement on patient quality of life. 
 
What I will be facing for the Bone Marrow Stem Cell Procedure is as follows:

The bone marrow procedure is a hybrid treatment that takes place over the course of three days in a clinical outpatient setting. Before treatment can begin, the patient must complete all bloodwork, paperwork and prerequisite testing, which typically includes an electrocardiogram (EKG) and a pulmonary function test. After this necessary evaluation, the patient can visit one of our state-of-the-art clinics to begin treatment.

For the next few days, the patient will spend a few hours in the clinic each day. On the first day of treatment, the patient will receive the venous procedure, which uses an IV to collect a blood sample. The second day consists of the bone marrow aspiration, which removes a small amount of bone marrow fluid. Each day, the clinicians will clean and isolate the stem cells from the blood or bone marrow, so that they can be reintroduced to the damaged area intravenously. After reintroduction, the stem cells can begin to promote healing and improve your lung function.

How you can help...

I do not have any recourse but to start this go fund me out reach as a chance to get healed and live longer or not. I hope some friends, relative or even strangers who can donate to my fund will help me reach my goal of $17,000 dollars. Literally my life depends on it.


Alternately, this will also help me...

Another way you can help, is if you post this camaign to your facebook page...to help me reach out to others in support of me..


In closing...

I will be eternally garetful for all your support and prayers.

I hope to have my goal reach at least by February 2017, as the doctors pointed out the sooner the better, for a chance of recoverering 60 % of lung function, which will be enough for many additional years.

Below is addition information were I started from in my quest, The lung Institute in fact, suggested go fund me as a source of raising funds for payment. Help Fund Me, In reaching funds for my medical treatment. 

https://lunginstitute.com/treatment/bone-marrow/