Our patient stories.

News of the stem cell bill signing was received with joy by a Lakewood woman who says the research has already improved her life. CBS force Terry Jessup goes in depth this evening with how the research in other countries is helping people in Colorado. Coloradans are hopeful for the future.

“…I see normally, and can move both legs straight out, and I can still do this (raises her hand). I couldn’t move this hand before, so, that’s remarkable.”

Jennifer Blankenship has suffered from Multiple Sclerosis since 1984, after years of no relief from pills and alternative medicines.

Blankenship: “I have done every drug on the market for MS.”

She traveled to Costa Rica to receive stem cell spinal injections.

Blankenship: “When I got back, I could move parts of my body, talk normally, I see normally, and can move both legs straight out, and I can still do this (raises her hand). I couldn’t move this hand before, so, that’s remarkable.”

And when she heard the news the President has now reversed limits on using money for embryonic stem cell research…

Blankenship: “So this will absolutely be a miracle for so many people….And it only works for a couple of years. But a couple of years for me is a lifetime.”

White: “It offers really new hope and exciting opportunities.”

Terry White is President of Bridge Health international, a local company that arranged Jennifer’s trip.

White: “We have seen patients within a short time after treatment, who had paralysis from a stroke, being able to grab something with that paralyzed hand and actually throw a ball so their dog can chase it.”

White concedes the stem cell treatments are expensive, normally running in other countries from twenty thousand up to sixty thousand dollars. Today’s Bill signing, he says, could change that, as more money becomes available for research. The question for people like Jennifer Blankenship is how soon the treatment she receives right now by the Institute for Cellular Medicine could become available her in the United States. That’s a question that’s tough to answer.

Blankenship: “It will probably be, hopefully in my lifetime.”

In Lakewood, Terry Jessup, CBS 4 News.

These doctors could not have been more wrong. While she seemed to be a typical infant once she left the hospital, she began to miss many of her motor milestones right away. At about a year of age, she was able to roll onto her back, but not onto her stomach. At this time, she started physical therapy. She made very slow progress. About this time, she started to develop high tone in her legs and arms.

By the time she was 16 months of age, she was not able to sit up, crawl, or walk. She had much difficulty sitting up in a high chair and was not able to hold her own bottle. Her physical therapists told me she would most likely not be a “functional walker”.

On that day, we decided to go to the Stem Cell Institute in Panama. While the doctors we had seen in the past were very wrong about her prognosis to be “fine”, the doctors in Panama were right every step of the way. The doctors told me that I would most likely see a decrease in her tone that may lead to an increase in function. This was exactly what we saw after her second of four injections in Panama. Holly started to take bigger steps while we held her up. Prior to going to Panama, she walked with us holding her. Her steps were laborious, scissored in front of her, and she needed cues for each and every step.

While still in Panama, she refused to have my husband and I hold her anymore, she wanted to be held walking all the time. Her steps became bigger and needed no prompting. Her increase in knee and hip flexion was incredible. While also in Panama, Holly started to be able to hold her own botle and pick up her “sippy” cup to drink using both of her hands. She was unable to do either prior to the treatment. She was also able to sit up in her high chair without using her arms to come forward. This also she was not able to do prior to treatment.

We are currently 2 months post-treatment and her physical therapists have changed their prognosis for her. They are now saying that we can transition her from her posterior walker to walking without assistance in the future.

The Stem Cell Institute clinic, doctors, and staff are just wonderful. The doctors were accurate in the changes we would see, but did not promise anything. They took the time to answer any questions I had, even when I called them on their personal cell phone at 7AM in Panama. The clinic was clean and modern. The hospital where Holly went under general anesthesia was also modern and clean, with equally qualified doctors. Holly was in good hands at every step.

Panama is beautiful and I felt very safe there. My family made a vacation out of it, bringing Holly’s twin sister, Bethany and her 3 year old Brother, Tyler along. I would recommend this clinic without hesitation.

I want anyone who is reading this to know that I am in no way being paid to write this and you may call me on my cell phone at any time. I have signed a release with the clinic so that I may be contacted.

Carolyn Catalano

NOTE: In order to keep emails and phone calls to a manageable level, Mrs. Catalano’s email and cell phone number will be provided to the parents of all CP or PVL patients who have been evaluated and approved for treatment.

Attached is a recent video of Holly. I thought I would send you all an update. Please share the video and the updates as you see fit! I would love Dr. Paz, etc to see the product of their work!

Holly is doing much better since our last trip to Panama. The progress from the stem cells was a little slower this time. I think it was because of her age and that she was not as impaired as in the past. Our therapists still saw immediate changes upon our return from Panama, but the big changes took 2-3 months after to realize.

Holly is able to stand for about 2-20 seconds, depending on the day and she is able to walk with minimal help for balance.

Holly is so funny- she asks all the time to go to Panama! 🙂

Talk soon!

You guys are life savers!

All my best, Carolyn Catalano

Stem Cell Treatment email update from Holly Catalano’s mother, Carolyn to the Stem Cell Institute’s CEO, Pablo de la Hoya. Holly was treated for periventricular leukomalacia, a disorder that is similar to cerebral palsy.

Hi Pablo,
Hope you are enjoying your time in NY.

I wanted to give you an update on Holly. Feel free to post on the website/facebook, etc.
IHolly is cruising on furniture all around the house. It is unbelievable. Like I had told you, she could only take a couple steps along furniture before we came.

Also, her physical therapist came today and was very impressed with Holly’s balance responses in her feet. Before our trip, the PT was getting about 2 balance responses in her calves through the tendon guard reflex every 2 treatment sessions. Holly had 6 good balance responses in her feet today. We told our therapist that we went to Panama for Stem Cells and her exact words were ” I am sold”. She had started with Holly prior to our second Stem Cell treatment and was impressed then also when Holly returned from Panama crawling.

I hope to get a new video to you in the next couple days of her cruising on furniture.

All the best,
Carolyn Catalano

Video of Holly’s first step after stem cell therapy at the Stem Cell Institute in Panama. Holly suffers from periventricular leukomalacia – cerebral palsy.

Date: Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 5:55 PM
Subject: Holly Catalano Video
To: “cunningham, cindy”, Pablo De La Hoya

Hi Pablo,

Holly is doing very well and we are so excited to come to the clinic next week!

Attached is a video of Holly’s first independent step! I know it is hard to believe as she just started crawling with our last stem cell treatment in May! The step is at the very end of the video. The therapist lets her go and she steps one step toward me without being held or holding onto anything! We are very confident that with the help of the Stem Cells and your amazing team she will walk independently soon!

I am not sure if I told you in the previous email, but during her last stem cell treatment Holly’s language really came in. She now speaks in complete sentences! When you see her, she will tell you about anything you want to hear. She sings whole songs and she has only just turned 2 years old! She is super smart too!

I truly believe that without the Stem Cells she would not be where she is today! We are so blessed to have found your clinic!

See you soon!
Carolyn Catalano (and Holly)

Carolyn C. discusses her daughter’s progress after stem cell therapy for periventricular leukomalacia at the Stem Cell Institute in Panama City, Panama. She began walking independently soon after stem cell treatment. She had never taken a step prior to treatment.

Email Update 7 weeks after Holly’s second treatment

Date: Wed, Jul 20, 2011 at 8:12 PM
Subject: Update on Holly Catalano
To: [edited for privacy – Doctors and Staff at Stem Cell Institute]

Hi All!

I am sorry that it has taken me this long to email you!

First, I want to Thank You all from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful gift you have given my family and Holly! You are all truly remarkable miracle workers!

Second, I want to give you an update on Holly. It has been about 7 weeks since our second treatment. When we were in Panama, she started crawling around- about 5 feet then she would collapse- but that a start! When we returned from Panama, she was still crawling a little bit. Her therapists immediately noticed that both of her arms were loser in supination- she was tight in this area before and had even lost some passive range of motion in her left arm. She now has full passive range into supination and some active range on her right arm. Her therapists also noticed an increased functional use of her left arm. Well, about 2 weeks ago, she really took off crawling- she is crawling all around the house, can get into a crawling positon by herself, and plays in crawling now! Tonight for the first time, she went from a crawling to a sitting position by herself and was doing this over and over again! This is huge, as now she can get herself in and out of a sitting position! This is a huge hurdle she just overcame!

Oh and I forgot to mention, that upon our return from Panama, her neurologist was very impressed by her overall decrease in tone and even said that her tone was mild!
We have added a physical therapist to our team who says that Holly will walk without braces or a walker! She did not know Holly pre-stem cells, so all she know is how Holly is now.
I have attached a video of Holly crawling, sitting up, Thanking you, and blowing all of you kisses!

I know I forgot people in this email message, so Cindy- could you please forward to those who I did not have their email addresses. And please, feel free to use this email and the video in any way you want. I have been talking to prospective parents each week-sometimes two a week- as I have been posting our story on cerebral palsy message boards.

Thanks again so much!

Carolyn Catalano

Stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis enables legendary Ennis, Texas football coach to see his son Graham Harrell play for the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV.

Video update that includes Holly Catalano crawling after her second stem cell treatment at the Stem Cell Institute in Panama. At the end of the video is additional footage showing Holly walking along furniture after her third treatment. Holly suffers from periventricular leukomalacia, a disorder which is similar to cerebral palsy.

After treatment at Stem Cell Institute, Ezra experienced a transformation in his wellbeing that his mother, Rhonda, could only describe as a miracle.

Due to her son’s vastly improved speech and a now fully-functioning immune system, Rhonda has become an advocate for stem cell therapy.

Learn about stem cell treatment for Autism

Find out if your child is a candidate: Apply today