Mar 11, 2008 7:21 pm US/Eastern
Experimental Stem Cell Procedure Gives Family Hope
SACRAMENTO, CA (CBS4) ―
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At eighth months old, Dallas Hextell was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
CBS
Modern medicine in the 21st Century allows for new parents to store the child's stem cells when they are born. Many medical experts say parents should think of it as a 'repair kit' for the body.
For one new family in Sacramento, it could change their child's life.
"He didn't open his eyes," said Cynthia Hextell, "he just cried a lot and they kept saying it was colic."
At eighth months old, Dallas Hextell was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Researchers have been unable to find a cure for the disease which damage's a person's brain; they've only been able to develop therapy to help manage the debilitating effects.
"You can tell he's frustrated," said Dallas' mother Cynthia, "because his mind is health and he wants to do things physically. He just can't."
By the time Dallas reached 18-months, his only form of communication with his parents was screaming. He also lacked control over his body; unable to clap, wave, crawl or speak.
"He doesn't say mama or dada," said Hextell.
Conventional has had little impact, but the Hextells say when Dallas was born, they decided to bank his stem cells. The cells harvested were not the controversial stem cells created by embryos, but those taken directly from the umbilical cord.
Dallas was accepted into a clinical trial at Duke University. By placing his own stem cells back into his body, through a simple I-V, doctors hoped the cells would heal the damage part of his brain.
"The hope is that the infusion of these cells would lessen Cerebral Palsy in these children," said Duke University's Joanne Kurtzburg.
Miraculously, just five days after receiving his infusion, Dallas spoke and laughed for the first time.
"That's the best feeling in the world," said Dallas' father, Derak Hextell, "to hear your little kid laugh. He had never laughed before."
The Hextell's insurance did not cover the $12-thousand experimental treatment and doctors say there is no way to know how much the improvements are directly related to the treatment.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Burned Teen's Family Staying Positive
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