Patient story of Johannes Wolf, 72 years, Parkinson's disease
Year of birth: 1935
Job: Engineer
Marital status: married, one son & one
daughter
Disease treated: Parkinson's disease
How it started
"I no longer have any pain and I am completely drug free"
I was on a skiing holiday with my wife in 2003. The ski instructor showed us a stem turn and suddenly I found that my ski wouldn't do what I wanted it to anymore. I went to my GP first for a check-up and she sent me to a neurologist. He diagnosed Parkinson's and this was subsequently confirmed in a university clinic by an MRI scan. It was also established at this point that I had been suffering from Parkinson's since 1997. I had always had leaden legs in previous years and neighbours had even noticed that I was beginning to move slower.
The consequences
Initially, I was prescribed the usual drugs used to counter the illness, such as dopamine. I also went to various professors at my hospital in order to receive state-of-the-art treatment. I asked about adult stem cell treatment there but I was always told that I'd have to wait another ten years for it. In 2005, I was prescribed a new drug which elicited more side-effects than positive ones in me. For example, when I'd get out of the car, I would feel so dizzy that I'd have to hang on to the car for a moment. My health continued to deteriorate. In order to do something to counter the Parkinson's, I lost ten kilos in weight and played an hour of sport each day. However, my extensive forest walks, which used to be four kilometres in length, had to be kept to just 500 metres because of exhaustion. My legs became heavier, I couldn't climb stairs anymore. I was finding it increasingly difficult to write anything and eventually I couldn't write at all.
I looked for alternative treatments. I would spend nights on the Internet researching the subject of stem cell research and genetics. At some stage I came across the XCell-Center and made contact with the patient advisor.
Stem cell treatment - 2007
In July 2007, I had bone marrow removed from my hip at the XCell-Center. This was processed in a laboratory and re-injected a few days later. The process wasn't laborious at all and I didn't have any side-effects such as headaches or nausea. After resting for four hours after the implant, my wife was able to take me home again.
The result
I could feel a tingling in my head in the first eight days after the treatment, as if there was a small revolution taking place. The feeling of having lead in my legs continuously lessened. I found it increasingly easier to brush my teeth and could close the small buttons on my shirt again. I gradually came off the drugs two weeks after the treatment and brought them back to my doctor. Four weeks later, I then went to the forest and simply walked and walked. To date, I don't have any pain anymore and I am completely drug free. It's like a miracle to me!
Advice
Adult stem cell treatment is still considered a treatment attempt in Germany and is treated with a lot of scepticism by doctors. However, you shouldn't be put off by this. I am convinced that the treatment has helped me!
Treatment Evaluation Process
In order to be evaluated for treatment, patients must complete an online medical history form. Once you've completed the online medical history and submitted it, a patient relations consultant will contact you. He or she will assist you with the rest of the evaluation process. Upon treatment approval, your consultant will also assist you with treatment scheduling and trip preparation.
