Jakob has been diagnosed with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia; simply this means while he was developing as a fetus the nerves behind his eyes did not form completely and therefore he has no sight. In North America there are no treatment options for this type of disorder, however there is research being done with Umbilical Stem Cells. By the time any treatment would be available here it would be too late for Jakob. In China they are already treating children with this disorder with Umbilical Stem Cell Transplants which encourage the continued growth of the optic nerve. Jakob is poised to be the first Canadian ever to undergo this treatment for this disorder.
The biggest controversy involving stem cells is how they are obtained and most of the debate revolves around Embryonic stem cells, and often result in the loss of the donor embryo. This is not what we are doing. Jakob will receive stem cells obtained from the blood of umbilical cords donated by mothers from live births. This is material that is normally discarded as medical waste. Stem Cells are the master cells that replenish all the bodies tissues from skin and blood to the brain and heart. It has been proven that these cells have the ability to assist in nerve and organ regeneration, as well as enable tissue repair and restoration.
When Jakob is 9 months old he will be old enough to go get this procedure. The doctor's in China will review his MRI and diagnosis to determine how many treatments he will require. For his age they usually recommend 4-6 treatments. One will be given to him by IV and the remainder will be done by spinal tap (like a epidural). Each Stem Cell Treatment given to Jakob will be packed with 10 -15 million blank cells that will mix with his Cerebral Spinal Fluid and essentially bathe his brain. Neural Growth Factors will also be injected to encourage the stem cells to find their targets and transform into new neurons. This treatment will be repeated once per week for 4-5 weeks. In addition to the Stem Cell's and Growth factor Jakob will also receive a custom tailored rehabilitation program. The risks for this treatment are low and we feel confident that the benefits far exceed any risks to Jakob.
The company responsible for making this treatment possible is called Beike Biotech. Beike Biotech is directly responsible for helping Justin, Jackson, Rylea, Hunter, and many other children, this is just a few of their stories.
Umbilical Stem Cell Treatments are Jakob's greatest, and virtually only hope. In addition to his Optic Nerve Hypoplasia Jakob also suffers from Septo Optic Dysplasia, which in addition to the loss of vision can also cause learning difficulties and seizures. Beike Biotech believes that they can treat him and give him a much better chance at a "normal" life. We want to be able to give Jakob every opportunity to grow, develop, and enjoy being a little boy by giving him the gift of sight.
