Stroke patient and Autologous Stemcell Transplant Recipient
May 2007
"My name is Grace Draper and I am a stroke survivor. I am 8 years
post stroke. I had a hemorrhagic stroke on May 22, 1999 I had my
stem cell transplant on March 17, 2007. It was very simple and
painless. It's like hitting 2 birds with one stone you get a
liposuction and a stem cell transplant all at once. They don't take
out that much fat but fat is fat. Almost instantly I felt better but
it must have been psychological. I kept on dreaming afterwards that
I was walking but it was only a dream after 2 weeks I felt a need to
move so i got up and started to walk without a cane a feat I had
been unable to do in the past. I could only walk about 25 feet but
that was good enough for me. I then took my cane and realized I had
better balance on both feet. It felt like my left leg which is the
weak one had "grown" longer. It hit the floor much better than it
used to. I started walking around the house like a child in a toy
store. By the way my left hand which was contracted is looser now
meaning it's more relaxed and open. Even my nail girl noticed it
when she did my manicure she said your left hand is much softer now
so it was not my imagination working overtime again. She's always
had to struggle with my left hand but this time was a breeze. I keep
waiting for more improvement because I know they will come. My
youngest daughter is getting married on September 23 and my goal is
to walk down the isle rather than be wheeled. Bet I could do it.
Stem cell is the cure of the future. I believe in it and as long as
you believe there is hope."
January 14, 2008
"These are some new improvements in my condition. I can now walk and
do transfers barefooted. This something I could not do before since
I could not stop my toes on the left foot from clenching when I
stand. I can now control it to stay flat. I also discovered that I
can go from sitting position to standing without putting my lift
chair all the way up; not very easily but I can do it. They are not
very big improvements but I am excited that I am still improving one
year after my fat stem cell transplant which was on February 17,
2007. I will keep you posted of anymore improvements as they happen."
March 10, 2008
"MORE IMPROVEMENT!! I have this excercycle that i seldom used because my husband
had to tie my foot to the pedal so it wont slip off. Now i can use it and my foot
stays put. I can also get in and out of bed unassisted with more ease. I could do it before
but with a lot of difficulty that i had to think twice before getting out of bed since i
was never sure if i could get back in. My husband could not attend conventions out of town
since i could not be left alone.
Now he is free to go. Most of my improvement has to do with my left leg and foot. I
can also walk around the house 3X before i have to sit down it used to be 1X and i am
exhausted i was hoping for improvement to my left hand but i guess not. The neurologist
did tell me it was hopeless but she also told me that i could not expect improvement past
6 months post stroke its been almost 9 years and I'm still improving so i have hope. I
will keep you posted of more improvements as they occur. Kind regards."
