Michael Flounders, a 52 year old man from Fressingfield, England broke his neck and suffered a spinal cord injury in a bad accident 20 years ago and thought he would never be able to walk again. However, thanks to the wonders of Adult Stem Cell research and having his own Adult Stem Cells implanted into his spinal cord in Ecuador, he now has aspirations of walking.

Mr. Flounders read about a new stem cell treatment in Luis Vernaza hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Dr. Luis Geffner had just completed an Adult Stem Cell research study of implanting the patient’s own stem cells from their bone marrow back into the patient’s spinal cord.

From the article:

He first heard about the pioneering procedures on a spinal injuries blog online.

“It was really bizarre, as I was reading about it I knew it was what I had to do. The whole thing became a very spiritual experience for me,” he said. “It was really a step of faith to travel to a country 5,500 miles away where the doctors were saying they didn’t know what they would find when they opened up my neck, it could just crumble and all collapse, but I knew it was the right thing for me to do.

“You have to evaluate your whole life, the quality of life you have and think can I live with what I have now or do I take a chance to see if I could be a bit better?”

In November 2007, Mr. Flounders decided to do it. He traveled to Ecuador for the stem cell therapy.

Before the stem cell treatment:

• hair stopped growing and his legs were white due to poor circulation
• no strength in his stomach and back muscles so his body would always flop and fold
• no feelings in his legs

After the Adult Stem Cells were implanted:

• hairs in his legs are growing and his legs have color due to better circulation
• can control his stomach and back muscles - no more flopping and folding, can control his upper body better
• every day has more and more feelings in his legs

New Hope from Adult Stem Cell Research

The 52-year-old from Fressingfield, received ground breaking stem cell therapy in Ecuador in November 2007 and since the treatment he has started to see major improvements.

“Since the stem cell implant I am making recovery. How long and how far it will go no-one can say because it is so new,” he said. “It could still take a number of years before the full effects of the operation are felt because nerves are very slow in healing.

“It has broadened the horizons of my recovery; it has given me a sense of hope. Everyday things are changing; the feelings in my legs are becoming a lot more powerful.”