REASON FOR TREATMENT: In May 2009 William noticed a slight slur in his speech. His wife noticed a change in his voice and his posture. After being misdiagnosed as having suffered a minor stroke, William was not offered any treatment options. His condition kept on deteriorating until finally, in September 2007, he was diagnosed with ALS.
Apart from having difficulty swallowing and talking, William had lost a lot of weight along with muscle strength, particularly in his right arm and hand. He felt weaker and he was now slouching when seated.
DIAGNOSIS: ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
BEGINNING OF TREATMENT: November 11th 2009.
TREATMENT: 4 stem cell injections via lumbar puncture + nutritious stem cell cocktail treatment (intravenous).
CONDITION BEFORE THE TREATMENT:
See Videos:  ST before.wmv, OT PT before.wmv
Treatment options back home were very limited. William's doctors suggested rest and didn't see other alternatives that would allow him to resume speaking. At this point William and his family began searching for other options outside of the United States. His sons came up across Beijing Tiantan Puhua hospital, which offered stem cells treatment that might slow down the progression of the disease.
William and his wife came to China looking for a way to improve his condition.
William's condition deteriorated drastically in an exceptional short amount of time. In the six months from his initial diagnosis prior to his arrival in Beijing, his speech was significantly affected, making it very difficult for anyone but his wife to understand him. William also had trouble swallowing liquids (making it impossible to intake medications in the form of pills), which made it very hard to follow any treatment options, as limited as they might have been.
Although he tried his best to maintain his daily routine of working full-time and taking daily walks with his wife, it was getting harder and harder to perform these activities. Simple actions, such as brushing ones teeth and writing became impossible.
His muscle tone wasted away rapidly, and his family members noticed that his face was "drooping". William also experienced uncontrolled laughing outbursts for no apparent reason.
AFTER THE TREATMENT:
See Videos: interview william after.wmv,
Since the moment William began experiencing his first symptoms his disease was deteriorating so fast that he was able to notice changes in his condition on a weekly basis. Upon coming to Beijing Tiantan Puhua hospital, and after undergoing the first stem cells injection, William and his wife saw the disease slowing down for the first time in a year. Throughout his 5 weeks stay, Williams condition remained stable.
When prior to coming for treatment, eating proved to be very difficult for William thus causing him to lose weight dramatically, in the hospital William gained weight. His appetite has increased and he even consumed a few hamburgers. His voice was now stronger than before and although his speech remained weak, William and his wife learned a few routines from the speech therapist to continue working on while at home.
He regained movement in his right arm (he can now extend it and hold it up), movement in his hand (he can now write faster) and increase in muscle tone.
As they prepared to go back to California, William and his wike, Yokiko, were enthusiastic and happy with the changes in Williams condition. The family is planning to come back for a second treatment in order to maintain the progress achieved. |
