Monday, November 5, 2007

LifeFacts - Paraplegic's Own Stem Cells Bring Recovery

Kevin Krohn from Manitou Beach, Michigan was left a paraplegic after a car accident in 2001 crushed his spinal cord. In 2005, Kevin traveled to Portugal to undergo a procedure grafting stem cells from his nasal membrane to his spinal cord to rebuild nerve connections. He felt better immediately after the surgery, “I could feel my bladder fill.” He is continually improving through intensive physical therapy back in Michigan. Adult stem cell pioneer Dr. Carlos Lima said that the extent of Kevin's improvement was “quite unexpected” since he was one of the most severely injured patients he has treated.

Meanwhile, Krohn took his auto insurance company to court after they refused to reimburse the $51,000 in costs and claimed the procedure was experimental and not “reasonably necessary” according to Michigan's no-fault laws. A Lenawee County Circuit Court jury decided in Krohn's favor on November 2, 2007.

For more information, click here.