Surgery this summer in Portugal
Well, there's a bunch of new things happening so we thought we'd post an update.
If you are unfamiliar with what happened to Sam, go to June 2004 in the archives on the right side of the screen.
Since last June, we've been working hard at accepting Sam's accident and at the same time looking for opportunities to challenge him to keep growing and becoming the best and most able person he can be. We have learned so much and found great fun along with the challenges. One other thing that Randy has been doing is following all the new research going on around the world. That's where our BIG news comes from.
There is a Dr. Carlos Lima who has been doing an experimental surgery on people with spinal cord injuries like Sam's. This surgery is being done in Lisbon, Portugal. Each of us have stem cells located in our olfactory mucous in our nose, which Dr. Lima takes and transplants into the injured area on the spinal cord. The theory is that those stem cells can transform into nerves that will bridge the 2 cm gap in Sam's spinal cord. We are actually working through the Center for Spinal Cord Injury Rehab Center in Detroit (part of Wayne State University). http://www.centerforscirecovery.org. Check out the "making news" section.
They have been great about giving us info about the surgery and hooking us up with others who have already had it. We have been greatly encouraged by talking with them and have high hopes that Sam will be able to gain some level of sensation and muscle control. This surgery is NOT a cure, but is the best opportunity we see towards bringing Sam some recovery of function, feeling, movement, and a better future. So far, about 40 people have had this surgery from around the world. About 15 have been from the United States. We have called a number of them and we have heard stories of improvement at various levels. Some are moving their feet, legs, and arms after being paralyzed. A good article on this procedure can be read at http://www.freep.com/news/health/stemcells4e_20050104.htm.
We sent Sam's medical records to the Center for Spinal Cord Injury for review. They determined that Sam would be an excellent candidate and passed his records on to the surgical team in Portugal. They concurred and put the decision back in our hands. After much prayer, consultation with professionals as well as those who had gone through the surgery, we asked Sam if he was willing to have the surgery and the 2 yrs of physical therapy afterwards. He decided yes. I asked him what he wanted and he said "I just want to move my legs again". We informed Detroit that we wanted to move forward and they worked out a date for the surgery in Lisbon. That date will be Saturday July 30. If you have a high speed internet connection, you could download this PBS Innovation documentary on the procedure where they interview the Doctors, show the surgery in Lisbon, and interview the Doctors in Detroit that Sam has already met with. That link is: http://ircore.com/~reaper/pbs/Innovation-Miracle_Cell.wmv.
It is about 1 hour long.
Sam will be part of a study on this surgery. It is extremely promising and it uses Stem Cells from your own body, not the controversial embryonic stem cells. It is our hope that Sam becomes a poster boy for this type of therapy and research. As with every surgery, there are risks, but to stand back and do nothing and try nothing just isn't our style. We want to do all we can to help Sam reach his highest potential.
We do have a request from you. We treasure your prayers for Sam before, during and especially after the surgery as we need to take him to Detroit 3-4 times a week for 3+ hour rehab sessions. It will be hard for him to stay motivated to do rehab when missing school 3 days a week. Ada Christian again promised to work with us on this… they have been GREAT. Those therapy sessions are very very important. Those sessions help the brain and the new nerves communicate. Hopefully we (and the few others from West Michigan) can have some of the sessions in Grand Rapids instead of driving to Detroit. And finally, pray boldly that Sam exceeds everyone’s recovery expectations.
Thanks for taking the time to follow our family adventure. Knowing we have some partners out there who care makes a daily difference. If you have any questions, you may email, call, or ask right in this BLOG by posting a comment and we will answer.
If you are unfamiliar with what happened to Sam, go to June 2004 in the archives on the right side of the screen.
Since last June, we've been working hard at accepting Sam's accident and at the same time looking for opportunities to challenge him to keep growing and becoming the best and most able person he can be. We have learned so much and found great fun along with the challenges. One other thing that Randy has been doing is following all the new research going on around the world. That's where our BIG news comes from.
There is a Dr. Carlos Lima who has been doing an experimental surgery on people with spinal cord injuries like Sam's. This surgery is being done in Lisbon, Portugal. Each of us have stem cells located in our olfactory mucous in our nose, which Dr. Lima takes and transplants into the injured area on the spinal cord. The theory is that those stem cells can transform into nerves that will bridge the 2 cm gap in Sam's spinal cord. We are actually working through the Center for Spinal Cord Injury Rehab Center in Detroit (part of Wayne State University). http://www.centerforscirecovery.org. Check out the "making news" section.
They have been great about giving us info about the surgery and hooking us up with others who have already had it. We have been greatly encouraged by talking with them and have high hopes that Sam will be able to gain some level of sensation and muscle control. This surgery is NOT a cure, but is the best opportunity we see towards bringing Sam some recovery of function, feeling, movement, and a better future. So far, about 40 people have had this surgery from around the world. About 15 have been from the United States. We have called a number of them and we have heard stories of improvement at various levels. Some are moving their feet, legs, and arms after being paralyzed. A good article on this procedure can be read at http://www.freep.com/news/health/stemcells4e_20050104.htm.
We sent Sam's medical records to the Center for Spinal Cord Injury for review. They determined that Sam would be an excellent candidate and passed his records on to the surgical team in Portugal. They concurred and put the decision back in our hands. After much prayer, consultation with professionals as well as those who had gone through the surgery, we asked Sam if he was willing to have the surgery and the 2 yrs of physical therapy afterwards. He decided yes. I asked him what he wanted and he said "I just want to move my legs again". We informed Detroit that we wanted to move forward and they worked out a date for the surgery in Lisbon. That date will be Saturday July 30. If you have a high speed internet connection, you could download this PBS Innovation documentary on the procedure where they interview the Doctors, show the surgery in Lisbon, and interview the Doctors in Detroit that Sam has already met with. That link is: http://ircore.com/~reaper/pbs/Innovation-Miracle_Cell.wmv.
It is about 1 hour long.
Sam will be part of a study on this surgery. It is extremely promising and it uses Stem Cells from your own body, not the controversial embryonic stem cells. It is our hope that Sam becomes a poster boy for this type of therapy and research. As with every surgery, there are risks, but to stand back and do nothing and try nothing just isn't our style. We want to do all we can to help Sam reach his highest potential.
We do have a request from you. We treasure your prayers for Sam before, during and especially after the surgery as we need to take him to Detroit 3-4 times a week for 3+ hour rehab sessions. It will be hard for him to stay motivated to do rehab when missing school 3 days a week. Ada Christian again promised to work with us on this… they have been GREAT. Those therapy sessions are very very important. Those sessions help the brain and the new nerves communicate. Hopefully we (and the few others from West Michigan) can have some of the sessions in Grand Rapids instead of driving to Detroit. And finally, pray boldly that Sam exceeds everyone’s recovery expectations.
Thanks for taking the time to follow our family adventure. Knowing we have some partners out there who care makes a daily difference. If you have any questions, you may email, call, or ask right in this BLOG by posting a comment and we will answer.
