Stem Cells For Machiel

My name is Machiel Dabner and I am a 19 year old from Johannesburg, South Africa with aspirations to become a Financial Advisor. In 2005 I was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia and many things in my life had changed.

WHAT IS FRIEDREICH’S ATAXIA?

Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA) is a debilitating, life-shortening, degenerative neuro-muscular disorder. In Friedreich’s ataxia the spinal cord and peripheral nerves degenerate, becoming thinner. The cerebellum, part of the brain that coordinates balance and movement, also degenerates to a lesser extent. This damage results in awkward, unsteady movements and impaired sensory functions. The disorder also causes problems in the heart and spine, and some people with the condition develop diabetes. The disorder does not affect thinking and reasoning abilities (cognitive functions).

Friedreich’s ataxia is caused by a defect (mutation) in a gene labeled FXN. The disorder is recessive, meaning it occurs only in someone who inherits two defective copies of the gene, one from each parent. Although rare, Friedreich’s ataxia is the most common form of hereditary ataxia, affecting about 1 in every 50,000 people in the United States. Both male and female children can inherit the disorder.

THERE IS HOPE IN THE FORM OF STEM CELLS:

A stem cell is a very basic cell, which has the potential to develop into any other cell in the human body, such as a nerve cell, heart cell, skin cell, brain cell etc.

STEM CELL TREATMENT FOR FRIEDREICH’S ATAXIA:

Patients with Ataxia see the condition getting progressively worse because of the constant loss of nerve cells in their brain/spinal cord. Thus, the aim of the therapy for Ataxia is to regenerate patient’s lost nerve cells by using stem cell transplantation. To do so, stem cells are injected in great quantity through IVs and lumbar punctures in order to better target the damaged areas.

BEIKE BIOTECHNOLOGY:

Beike is a Chinese biotechnology company with main offices in Shenzhen (near Hong Kong) and Taizhou. Beike’s stem cell research and clinical applications were developed starting in the 1990s. Over 60 PhDs from leading Chinese universities contributed to advancing Beike’s treatment technologies. Many of Beike’s scientists also have experience at leading Western universities, including Stanford, the University of Minnesota, and UCLA.

Beike is the world’s largest stem cell provider focusing on the research, product development, and clinical translation of adult stem cells as well as immunotherapy. Their goal is to increase communication with governments foreign and domestic to bring regenerative medicine to the world.

Beike Biotechnology only make use of Adult Stem Cells, which are harvested from donated umbilical cord blood.

The umbilical cord blood stem cell type has been chosen because it contains three subsets of stem cells which include mesenchymal stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells and hematopoietic stem cells which can:

1. Differentiate into many different types of cells including neural/nerve cells.
2. Promote new blood vessels and increase blood supply to the injured or targeted area,
3. Release growth factors and stimulate the patient’s own stem cells to further promote cellular differentiation.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE BEIKE BIOTECHNOLOGY STEM CELL TREATMENT?

The treatment includes not only the stem cell injections but also transportation from the airport, all necessary testing and examinations upon arrival at the hospital, a room with an additional bed (for a caregiver) for the whole treatment duration, meals customized by their nutritionist based on the my health assessment, and a comprehensive rehabilitation program that can include 16 physical therapy sessions, 10 occupational therapy sessions, 14 acupuncture sessions, 8 hyperbaric oxygen therapies and 8 transcranial magnetic stimulation sessions.

My condition is rapidly deteriorating, thus I am desperately seeking Adult Stem Cell Treatment at the Better Being Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand to possibly give me the quality life we all take for granted. I am asking that you dig deep, open your heart and contribute toward funding my treatment, which amounts to $40,000 USD.All proceeds will provide for the Beike Biotechnology Adult Stem Cell Treatment and full stay for myself and an assistant at the Better Being Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand ($33,000 USD); Food, living expenses and return airfare for myself and an assistant for the duration of our stay in Thailand ($7,000).

I thank you in advance for your generosity and consideration.

Kindest regards,

Machiel