Stem Cell Therapy

Hey all,

Anyone that knows me will already be aware of my son Donnacha and his condition, but for those of you that don’t here’s our story.

Donnacha was born at 37weeks after an uneventful pregnancy weighing a healthy 7lbs 3ozs on the 24h of February 2017. For all intense purposes Donnacha should now be a happy healthy almost 7year old boy. Unfortunately there was a lot of complications during his delivery none of which I want to recall or relive. Donnacha suffered hypoxia which devastatingly has lead to cerebral palsy. What that has meant is Donnacha is unable to walk independently (yet) and is non verbal (yet).

I never like to focus on what Donnacha “can’t do” why would I when he has so so many beautiful talents. Donnacha has an amazing talent for numbers he has been acing maths from the age of 3 there is no sum that he doesn’t know the answer too. Donnacha has also been able to spell and type from the age of 4 he has an adaptive app on his iPad that allows him to voice what is in his beautiful mind. Donnacha is not only extremely intelligent but is the most fun loving caring affectionate little boy. To know Donnacha is to love him.

We as a family are devoted to not taking no as an answer when it comes to potential treatments that could help unlock abilities that we all take for granted. Imagine a world where you could not simply use your voice to express your simplest of needs. Combine that with not being able to stand up on your own walk to the bathroom never mind kick a football or run in the playground with your friends.

I know he’s certainly not the only child suffering in what can be such a cruel world but he is my world. We as his family cannot just accept that this is his future. What has kept me going throughout the constant heartache is the hope that we will someday uncover a treatment that will help him in some way. We are constantly (even in the little hours at night) searching for an answer. What we have found is Stem cell therapy. To date stem cells have been the only treatment that can have any profound lasting effect on his health. Stem cells are opening up the potential to treat what we have been told was untreatable.

Stem cell transplantation is a regenerative therapy that has the potential to replace the damaged and non-functional cells in the brains of children with cerebral palsy, as well as to provide support to the remaining neurons and oligodendrocytes. In doing so the hope is that Donnacha’s gross motor function will improve by reducing the spasticity from within it would allow the therapy’s that we do daily to become effective.

Unfortunately stem cell therapy is not yet available in Ireland. However there are various clinics worldwide that provide different types of stem cell therapy for different conditions.

After countless hours of research and reaching out to real people whom have received the therapy’s I have found what I believe to be the best fit for Donnacha’s condition. Which is a company called Bekie based in Thailand. The treatment they offer for cerebral palsy is: Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells (UCMSC) provided through IV and Spinal injection

14 Acupuncture sessions

16 Physiotherapy sessions

10 Occupational Therapy sessions

8 Hyperbaric Oxygen sessions

8 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation sessions

The potential treatment outcomes are:

Improved cognition and development

Improved muscle tone and strength

Improved motor functions

Improved social skills and quality of life.

Not only will Donnacha receive stem cells but in addition an intensive 23 day rehabilitation program aimed to stimulate the stem cells allowing opportunity for better outcomes.

I have not asked other families permission to share their journeys as I believe every child is different and the potential outcomes will differ for each. However the feedback that I have received has been remarkable the changes stem cells has made to those innocent children’s lives has given us the hope and courage to take the chance.

As Donnacha gets older the physical challenges he faces are becoming extremely difficult to manage. As he cannot walk we have to carry donnacha when using his frame or chair isn’t an option. Physically it will soon be impossible and we will be totally reliant on equipment. This has always been my biggest fear. Which is why we can’t wait any longer to proceed with the treatment. Unfortunately the estimated cost just for the treatment is $36,900. It’s heartbreaking to have to consider costs for a child to be given a chance at life that the majority of us have been fortunate enough to be given.

We whole heartily understand that not everyone is in a position to donate. We feel we cannot wait a second longer to give our beautiful boy a true chance at life.

Many thanks for taking the time to read our story.

Love

Donnachas biggest fans x