In search of hope, help for heart

I'll let all of you in on a little secret. When the big boss isn't around, Stem Cell Guy likes to surf the internet on company time. Recently, the boss went on a short vacation so Stem Cell Guy had the opportunity to surf the internet and catch up on some recent stem cell stories. SCG came across a fascinating vignette describing recent Theravitae patient Stephanie Miller.

As you will see from the story, Stephanie has the will of a true warrior and nothing was going to stop her from coming to Bangkok to get her adult stem cell therapy for her coronary artery disease. This quote from Stephanie says it all "You stay home and die or you go there and try."

Stem Cell Guy wishes Stephanie the best of health and hope those adult stem cells start working their magic very soon.

Stephanie Miller had bypass surgery, and doctors twice propped her clogged arteries open with stents.
Still, the 54-year-old Madison woman's heart deteriorated. Her cardiologist said she risked an early death.
Miller, not willing to give up, sought help far away: She traveled to Thailand for an experimental stem-cell therapy.

Read the whole thing.

PS- If you want to report Stem Cell Guy for his internet abuse at work, you can email our founder, Don Margolis at coo@theravitae.com

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Yes, Stem Cell Guy knows that Thanksgiving is an American holiday, but the spirit of the holiday permeates the office of Theravitae even here in Bangkok, Thailand. Stay with me, this isn't going to be a long tear-jerking post.

Stem Cell Guy would just like to say that he thanks his lucky stars everyday for the opportunity to work with you, the heart disease patient. I want to say it has been my priviledge to play a minor role here at Theravitae and take part in improving the quality of life of so many people.

I thank you all.

Enough said-- A tremendous Thanksgiving to all of you. Don't stuff yourselves, not good for the heart :).

Thailand Prime Minister to Open Bangkok Stem Cell Symposium

Stem Cell Guy is soooooooooo happy!!!!!! I know you are all asking yourselves "Why is Stem Cell Guy so happy??" Well, let me tell you....Stem Cell Guy is going to the Bangkok Stem Cell Therapy Symposium on December 1-3, 2006.

What is so great about this? Look who is going to be there!! We have the Thailand Prime Minister. He alone may be worth the price of admission. Not only that, we have Ivy Leaguer and Stem Cell Superstar, Silviu Itescu (a bonus 5 points if you can pronounce his name correctly :). Also, we have Doris Taylor, from the University of Minnesota making the journey. We got Federico Benetti, he of the "First Minimally Invasive Stem Cell Implantation for Heart Failure in the World". Let's not forget about Bangkok Heart Hospital's Dr. Kit V. Arom, who along with Dr. Amit Patel treated Don Ho last year. Other stem cell superstars making the trip to Bangkok include Eugene Sim, Frans Van de Werf, Hermann Reichenspurner, Mary Laughlin, Masashi Komeda, Ray J. Chiu, Ren-Ke Li, Richard D. Weisel, and Takayuki Asahara.

Stem Cell Guy will be sure to bring his paper and a brand new pen in order to get all of those autographs.

Read the article

Lets Have A Coldie Around the Barbie In Honor of Beverly

First off, Stem Cell Guy would like to apologize for his poor attempt at Aussie slang. Now that the apology is out of the way, let's fire up the barbie and get started--

Beverly, a native Aussie, is the latest patient to write us about how she is doing since her adult stem cell therapy here in Thailand. Beverly just received her stem cells in late August.

Stem Cell Guy would like to ask all of you to raise your mug or bottle or can, in honor of Beverly. CHEERS Beverly. Stem Cell Guy and all of Theravitae wish you continued success.

Here is what Beverly wrote-

Plse feel free to give out my e-mail etc to whomever you think would like to have a "second" shot at a great way to live...like breathing without pains and difficulties...no real Cardiologist support...and I am now walking 1/4 mile ea day...smelling a lot of roses (and dogs!!) and truly feeling so much inner peace and gratitude for this 2nd shot at "living". I was "existing" before. Its no fun...now...its wow time and as the song says "I'ts only just begun" !
Bev

Stem Cell Guy says please email Beverly and ask her about her new beginning. You can reach Beverly here- bevono@yahoo.com

New hope for his heart

The last we heard from Dick Watson was on September 28th, when we showcased Dick's own blog. For the record, Stem Cell Guy doesn't like competition from other blogs, but for great people like Dick Watson, SCG will make an exception. Keep on blogging Dick and Dusti! And let us know how you are progressing.

Mr. Watson was just featured in his local newspaper, in Galesburg, Illinois, describing his experience here in lovely Bangkok. Here is a little teaser-

GALESBURG - Dick Watson has completed the journey of a lifetime - a trip to the other side of the globe and back - in hopes of extending his stay in this world a little longer.

Watson, 70, of Lake Bracken, underwent a new procedure in which adult stem cells extracted from his own blood were injected directly into his ailing heart to strengthen it. The operation was done Sept. 26 in Bangkok, Thailand, by a heart specialist there. Only about 80 such procedures had been done at the Bangkok Heart Institute before Watson's operation, he said.


Read the whole thing.

Update- Stem Cell Guy was so happy with his "contact the patient directly" idea(see Jim's pop quiz below) that SCG decided to do it again. This time, Stem Cell Guy contacted the Watsons and asked for their permission to post their phone number so that the readers of this blog can call them up and ask the Watsons about stem cell therapy in Thailand. You can reach them at 309-343-8337.