Hope for Collin
Donation protected
This is our handsome, kind, and affectionate son Collin. He looks like a normal boy with his beautiful bright blue eyes and infectious smile, but unfortunately, despite appearances, Collin is not like other boys his age. He is nonverbal and struggles daily with processing, expressive language, and sensory challenges. We have done research on just about every type of treatment available, specifically stem cell therapy for autism. We have heard and seen many amazing success stories with children like Collin who have received stem cells and have seen huge gains within months of treatment. Children who were non-verbal are able to speak and express themselves. They begin to read and play with other children and more. It is like they are brought back into this world and out of the autistic one in which they had been confined.
Anything you can donate to Collin’s cause will be greatly appreciated. Words can never express our gratitude. We'll of course update you on his status and you can take pride in knowing that your donation helped change Collin's future. Whether or not you are able to donate, please pray for our journey and share Collin’s story. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Collin’s Story
Collin is a miracle along with his twin sister Emma. We struggled for years and years to conceive. Thankfully through IVF, we were able to get pregnant and have our amazing twins. Collin and Emma hit every milestone from birth to 15 months. Collin was always a few weeks behind Emma on the physical milestone like rolling, sitting, and crawling, but when it came to speaking, Collin was first. He had over 30 words by 15 months, but he then stopped progressing and started losing the words he learned. It was if he started shutting down. He stopped interacting with us. He always wanted to be alone. He stopped responding to his name. He would just stare off in space. We felt like we were losing him.
We went to the pediatrician at 18 months to express our concerns. She told us to wait six months. We did, but we were losing Collin more and more each day. We went back at two years and still the pediatrician told us to wait. I had had it! I wanted action. Thankfully, a friend directed me to contact the program in Ohio called Help Me Grow. The evaluation was virtually, and he was accepted as needing extra help. We started virtual Speech Therapy sessions weekly. This wasn’t doing much. We took Collin back to the pediatrician at 2.5 years-old and explained that even the State had concern about Collin’s speech delay. The pediatrician finally agreed he needed additional help and we started weekly speech therapy sessions in person. Within a month the Speech Therapist recommended Collin be evaluated for Autism. As most parents of austic children know, the process to getting a diagnosis is extremely slow. It took months for him to be seen by a PEDS Pediatrician. Once seen, he was officially diagnosed with Autism.
Even though this confirmed our suspension. It was one of the hardest things to hear. You literally go through mourning. After the diagnosis we had to get him evaluated to see what level he fell on the spectrum. They diagnosis him as a level 3; this means he is on the severe side. He is nonverbal and has a hard time following direction.
To combat his symptoms, Collin has a full-time job going to various therapies weekly--over 35 hours, which include attending a IPP IEP Preschool, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Feeding Therapy. In the short time he has been attending these therapies he has shown great improvements, but we are determined to help him any way we can.
We have a close friend whose son is also on the spectrum and who has a very similar demeanor to Collin’s and he has received two IV treatments at the Stem Cell Institute in Panama. With his first treatment he went from one word to 30 words! His receptive language improved, his eye contact increased, and he started engaging and interacting more. It is only a few months after his second treatment, but his receptive language has increased even more. He is able to focus, point, request items like juice and a ball. His teachers are impressed with his progress over the last year and half. He is interacting with his peers more and more. Stem Cell Treatment is just another tool in the arsenal of tools to help children reduce symptoms of autism. All we want for our sweet little boy is to have chance for a happy, health, and fulfilling life. We believe this treatment could truly enhance his quality of life.
What is Stem Cell Therapy?
Adult stem cells come from bone marrow, fat, organs, and other tissues in the body. A great source of these adult stem cells resides in the umbilical cord. Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are known to help reduce inflammation, modulate the immune system, and secrete factors that may help various tissues throughout the body to regenerate. MSC are believed to break through the blood/brain barrier. This way the MSC can travel throughout the body and will be able to reach the brain. MSC have the ability to work in all blood types. They are considered a general cell that acts like a General in the military helping direct other cells to heal and help the body function better.
Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development is working on phase II and IIIs trial of Stem Cell Therapy to treat autism and neuro development delays. In a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial they are testing whether an IV infusion of donor hCT-MSCs helps decrease symptoms of Autism in young children. All participants will receive 2 IV infusions given six months apart. Duke is also currently accepting children who have their own umbilical cord or children who have their sibling umbilical cord (must be 100% sibling). The cost is over $15,000 dollars for one treatment. The objective is that this treatment will become FDA approved in the next few years.
Treatment for Collin
Since treatment is not FDA approved in the United States; we must look outside the US. The clinic that is the most reputable in Stem Cell Therapy is the Stem Cell Institute in Panama City, Panama. The clinic’s science was founded by an American Biotechnology company founded Neil Riordan, PhD. He’s an American doctor who has published numerous scientific journals and 17 families of patent application. Neil Riordan, PhD wrote, “Stem Cell Therapy: A Rising Tide: How Stem Cells Are Disrupting Medicine and Transforming Lives.” If you are interested; you can get a copy on Amazon Kindle for $.99. https://www.amazon.com/Stem-Cell-Therapy-Disrupting-Transforming-ebook/dp/B071GRNQPX
Thankfully, Collin has been accepted at the Stem Cell Institute. We plan on going in January 2022 for his first treatment. For one treatment the cost is $15,825 and this includes 5 days of Stem Cells Intravenously IV (40 billion MSC) and hotel accommodations. Flights are currently averaging around $600 a person. We plan on having one parent accompany Collin on this journey.
The goal is to send him to at least two treatments about 6 to 12 months apart. Similar to how the Duke University Phase Trail are giving 2 IV infusions given six months apart.
Organizer and beneficiary
Colleen Walsh
Organizer
Glenview, IL
Bridget Simoson Gladys
Beneficiary