Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Why I Choose China?

The question I get asked a lot is 'Why did you choose China'? I researched Stem Cell Therapy for about a year. I looked at every company, Doctor and program out there. I compared all based on many different factors. Here is what my decision was based on:

1. Type of Stem Cells
Umbilical Cord vs. Fetal vs. Bone Marrow. China does umbilical cord. This has been the most researched and shows the most effective in CP kids.

2. Where they came from
Stem cells in China come from the birth of the children in China. It is a normal procedure for the parents to sign the rights away to the government.
 
3. Processing of the stem cells
The stem cells are sent to a lab within the governments lab to be processed. They are tested for genetic issues and any diseases.

4. Delivery of the stem cells
Once the stem cells are taken from the birth of the child, they have 12 hours to process it, deliver them and inject them into our child. If  12 hours go by then the will discard the stem cells. The stem cells are not frozen, so no additional chemicals are put in our children.

5. How they are injected.
The first injection is always through an IV. The following injections are through a spinal. Of course this depends on the child's condition.

6. COST
Cost depends on the amount of injections you choose to receive. During your very first correspondence with the company, they will have you fill out a medical evaluation and will then suggest the amount your child should receive. We were going to do 5 injections at $23,500, but when I got to China I added another. This cost an additional $3500. However if you choose to do more before you leave for China, the cost is only $2600 of additional injections. 

7. Accommodations
Your length of stay is determined on how many injections you are to receive. 5 days for each injection. They like to give each injection at least 72 hours between each other.  We were there 25 days, since we had plenty of time we were able to add an additional injection without having to stay longer. The company in China has several different locations (hospitals) in China that they do the treatments out of. We were in the Qingdao hospital. They have half of the 8th and 9th floor dedicated and converted into the Stem Cell unit. Your room consists of a mini refrigerator, microwave, tv, dvd player, hospital bed for patient and a queen bed for caregivers. We also have a desk and chair, Some rooms also have couches and we have our own large bathroom. There is also a common area with 4 couches and tables, 2 computers and a kitchen. There is also a game room on the 9th floor with a ping pong table and large TV and gym equipment.

8. Additional benefits
Included also in the cost is therapy for your child.  Joey received 3 hours and 15 minutes of therapy  four days a week.

Comparing this will the other places, Dr.'s and companies that do Stem Cell therapy. China is the only one that does not freeze there stem cells. They are also the only ones to inject via spinal. The other places do not provide accommodations or therapy. This is were the price is different. The other companies also only give 1 -4 injections. China has also been doing the Stem Cell the longest and has done the most research on Stem Cell.

I'm sure there were more reasons, but I can't think of all of them right now.

If anyone has any other questions, please let me know.

1 comment:

Amy said...

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!! That is the most detailed information I have been given so far, and you explained it so very well. I mean, other folks have been helpful, but your explanation makes a ton of sense. Thanks for your thoughtful response!! I am scared about the spinal injection thing, and I would love to understand why that is better. I know that it seem like it would be more effective to get the stem cells as close to the neural activity as possible, thus the cerebral spinal area would make sense. Seems like the likelihood of them going to the brain would be increased that way. Did that scare you though?? Were there any risks of that that they told you about? Is that what most people do who go there, opt for the spinal injections?

So, sorry for all the questions. You are just do nice, and I don't want to be aggravating or anything. Did Kirshner help you guys or did you talk with someone else??

Also, if you could have gotten to do China, where would your second choice have been?

Thanks again for being so open and helpful.