Dallas was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at just 8 months old. In 2008, he became one of the first children in the United States to undergo an experimental treatment at Duke University to infuse his cord blood stem cells. Just 5 days after the treatment Dallas spoke for the first time and he continued to progress.
Dallas’ parents explain that they only made the decision to bank his cord blood two weeks before he was born – unaware that he would go on to be diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Their motivation had actually been due to a history of heart disease in the family.
After getting over the initial shock of the diagnoses, Dallas’s mum sought to find a treatment, if stem cells could repair spinal damage they surely there was something that could be done. The experimental therapy was not covered by health insurance and cost in the region of $12,000 – the family did not have to wait long to see results.
Whilst it is not know the full extent to which the cord blood transfusion assisted in his recovery his parents firmly believe that their decision to bank his stem cells and undergo the treatment has changed his life for the better. They are keen that more parents should be made aware of the benefits of cord blood banking.
