Antonia(Nia) Kearney's Stem Cell Treatment

May 2nd, 2019 I began experiencing strange symptoms such as neck pain and numbness in my arms. By the time I reached the hospital I loss control of my upper body and needed assistance to get out of the car. In a matter of mins I lost consciousness and due to sedation I wasn’t fully conscious until a couple days later. When I woke up I realized the only part of my body I could move was my head and I was breathing through a tube, that's when I knew this was real. I spent 3 weeks in the Neuro ICU at UNC Hospital where a ton of test were performed and all of them came back inconclusive. Not much of my condition was changing, I still had no movement and had to be put on a ventilator to help me breathe. My parents were told to prepare for me to never walk again. Though they weren't completely sure of the diagnosis they concluded the best was a rare neurological disorder called Transverse Myelitis which basically meant my immune system attacked my spinal cord.

Directly following my discharge from ICU, I flew down to a rehabilitation facility in Atlanta, Georgia where I spent 5.5 months going through extensive physical and occupational therapy. Over the course of therapy and treatment I was eventually able to transition off the ventilator to breathing on my own, I began to regain movement in my arms and legs and eventually started standing and taking a few steps. 

November 2019, I  was discharged from the Shepherd Center to return to my home in Raleigh, NC. At this time I was able to walk around for short distances with a pair of forearm crutches. I continued to go to physical and occupational therapy 3 times a week and attempting to learn a normality with my situation. 

June 2020, I was readmitted to the hospital with what they believe to have been another flare up of my condition because I had experience extreme weakness in my left leg which wouldn't allow me to bare any weight without giving out. As a result I was placed on an oral steroid regime to keep inflammation from reoccurring. 

Being on the steroid regime I was able to transition off using the forearm crutches to walking a short distances myself. A downside to taking the steroids is the weight gain, rounded face and over time wears bones down. 

I learned about a doctor in Minnesota who specializes in rejuvenating medicine and offers a Stem Cell Treatment. The Mesenchymal Stem Cells, from your own body,  have been found to successful heal and regenerate throughout the body and help repair damaged cells. This Stem Cell treatment will allow me to  get off of the use of oral steroids and assist the healing process of the damage area in my spinal cord. With healing comes strength and while this treatment can assist with healing I will continue to grow in strength physically, mentally and even spiritually. 

This fundraiser is to assist in covering the out of pocket cost for the treatment. Whether you are able to donate financially or not, all I ask is for you to please share, support and any form of encouragement is greatly appreciated.

Thank you kindly, 

Antonia Kearney 

"I may not be where I want to be but I am thankful for not being where I used to be"-Habeeb Akande