BEGINNING OF TREATMENT: August 28, 2009

CONDITION BEFORE THE TREATMENT: Upon learning about their daughter's disease, Zoja's parents have decided to do everything in their power to seek treatment for their child. When they have heard of stem cell treatments in Tiantan Puhua hospital, they decided not to waste time, and flew to Beijing China to receive neural stem cell treatment for Zoja.

Zoja's condition began deteriorating when she started suffering from epileptic seizures of different types, ataxia, difficulty with walking and speech. After only 2 months, Zoja could walk with assistance only, since her balance was severely damaged.

Batten's disease has also affected her speech in a way that she could now say a few words, but no longer sentences, and no longer in a free way-speaking was affecting her breathing, and Zoja had to struggle to speak out. Zoja is unable to cooperate with memory, calculation, and orientation tests, she has problems concentrating and focusing.

Without treatment, the prognosis for Zoja was grim, as over time, all affected children suffer mental impairment, worsening seizures, and progressive loss of sight and motor skills. Eventually, children with Batten disease become blind, bedridden, and demented. Batten disease is often fatal by the late teens or twenties.

Without other options available for them in native Serbia and other European countries, Zoja's parents decided to travel to China for stem cell treatments in an attempt to help their daughter to prolong her life and improve its quality.

AFTER THE TREATMENT:Zoja01.wmv, Zoja02.wmv

After being administered with neural stem cells, nutrients for the neural system which helped Zoja's brain to activate neural cells, in combination with rehabilitation therapy, Zoja is now able to walk unaided, with slightly unstable gait. Zoja's uses of her extremities, her strength and coordination have improved and she now can do some daily activities in a more flexible way. She can now grasp objects again, roll over, get up from bed without assistance and stand up.

She is now calmer, and not as easily irritated as prior to stem cell treatment. Her intelligence and ability to speak have improved and she is now able to learn several new words each day. Zoja's pronunciation is clearer than before. After stem cell treatment Zoja can communicate with others better, especially her parents. 

Upon leaving the hospital, Zoja's parents decided they were coming back for a second treatment. Zoja's mother, Bojana told us:"I feel like I am in a dream-I look at her, and I can't believe it is my child from 2 months ago, she has improved so much."