Stem Cells

Based on a story idea from http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/blog/6934-canadian-multiple-sclerosis-patient-improves-after-stem-cell-treatment.html

A Canadian with Multiple Sclerosis (Mr. Brent Davidson) traveled to Israel from Cochrane, Alberta. Where this is a risky adventure normally that might end in a spy novel being developed in the post Mid-East war days to come, its’ attraction will come in the true purpose of that visit. He followed in the footsteps of two other MS patients (Louis Zylstra and Arndt Roehlig). They went to see Dr Simon Slavin, who performs “Adult Stem Cell” treatment from that nation.
Before the treatment, Mr. Davidson had reduced cognitive functions. He needed a cane to walk more then a few feet and he had daily fatigue and pain. After the Stem Cells were implanted his cognitive functions returned, he tossed his cane and joined a tennis club. Mr. Davidson says “5% of the pain” remained as compared to before the treatment. He now leads a full active life. Another MS Patent from the same city is rallying for funds to go abroad for the treatment.
Before you go learning the “Local” language and hopping in your private jet thinking that Dr Slavin would do this for free once you get there, there is a price. Health Canada Medical Insurance (and therefore not many health plans) will not authorize this treatment which Mr. Davidson reports as being $30,000cdn. Your local chapter of the MS Society of Canada (or your MS Clinic) has no opinion on any therapy not approved by Health Canada. The information on Stem Cells can be found on their website “http://www.mssociety.ca/en/research/stemcell_research.htm”
Not being authorized in Canada, adult stem cells have caused quite a stir internationally. Taken from the patients own body, there is little chance of the body rejecting them. Apparently, “Cord Blood” stem cells, which Canada collects and stores in a Toronto clinic, cause a ripple of suspicion when it comes to chances of rejection. That ripple threw back research for approval a few years. Human testing with Cord Blood cells about 4 or 5 years ago resulted in the same results noted above. Perhaps within the next decade this treatment will come to be approved here but for now CCVSI looks good too. Perhaps something else needs to be done or the repair will do no good. MS Treatment options have come so far since 1995; they will go further till they cure it!