David’s Letter to the World
April 23rd, 2007
Stem Cells For Life
To whom It may concern,
My name is David Aldrich. I am a 49-year-old quadriplegic. My injury level is a C3, C4, incomplete. On May 27, 2002, I slipped and fell off of a boat anchored in shallow water and struck my head causing my injury. No one saw me fall, which resulted in me drowning. Friends of mine on the beach eventually spotted me floating face down in the water and pulled me to shore. I was not breathing. Fortunately there were two paramedics anchored on the same beach on their boat and they heard the cries for help. They immediately administered CPR and brought me back to life. I was airlifted to St. Mary’s Hospital in West Palm Beach, where I clung to life in a coma. My family flew to be by my side. I was not expected to live, the prognosis was grim. The doctors told my family that I had injured my spinal cord and was paralyzed from the nipples down. I came out of the coma after three days and was on a ventilator and a feeding tube with a halo brace on my head. I had no feeling or movement in my entire body. I was almost totally blind and had lost most of my hearing. I thought I was in a very dark room and remember wanting someone to turn the lights on. Since I was on a ventilator, I was unable to speak and could only blink my eyes and make pops and clicks with my mouth to communicate. I didn’t realize the extent of my injuries for several months. At one point, I had made the choice to end my life and my brother Paul, who was my guardian, went through the steps to remove my life support. Just hours before pulling the plug I changed my mind and decided that I wanted to live. I spent a total of 359 days in three hospitals between Florida and Colorado. My mom and dad came to be with me every single day while I was in Florida and the whole family took turns visiting me while I was in Colorado. We have a very close family and they all put their own lives on hold to make sure that someone was with me most of the time. For this I will be eternally grateful. I endured and survived several pitfalls such as an 8
Entry Filed under: sci
8 Comments Add your own
1. Jake and Jane Osborne | April 27th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Just read your blog with great interest and excitement. My wife and I are in Tianjin China for therapy for her recovery from strokes. She is in the care of Chinese doctors here and has been told that they are excited about makeing her recovery possible when at first they were being conservative. We have been her for one month and will be her at least for four months.
Jane was diagnosed with Cerebral Vasculitis which is quite rare with no research going on in the states for it. She has been taking medication for it and has had 75% improvement but the 25% still could cause another stroke. So we are hoping this treatment of TCM will remove the 25%. She has had some responses so far and feel she is making daily improvements. My question would be about the Stem Cell therapy and would it be useful for her to undergo that too while we are in China. If so, how do we contact the doctors in the hospital where you received your treatment. I understand that my wife would have to be invited and approved before entering. How did you get that approval? Is that still required. How much did the 5 weeks cost?
Thank you for your story and recovery. It gives up additional hope for a bright future.
Thank you and your family and friends for having he courage to take the road less traveled.
Respectfully,
Jake and Jane Osborne
2. Leandro | June 4th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
I´m from Argentina, I just watch your history on discovery channel or national geographic channel, i can´t remember
Was really touching seen you with that joy. After yours serious injury, few people show the motivation you´ve got.
I´m 29 an fortunately ain´t got any medical problem, just wanna write you to tell you this:
KEEP STRONGER AND CONTINUE GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY
Leandro from Argentina – Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires.
Pd: Forgive my writing, ain´t have much practise.
3. Diana Jaipaul | June 15th, 2007 at 12:25 am
Hello, I just read your amazing letter to the world on your accident and remarkable recovery. It brought tears to my eyes, knowing to an extent how you feel. I’m 25yrs old and 13 mths ago was paralysed with SCI in a motor vehicle accident. I’m from Trinidad and Tobago and doctors here have no hope of me ever walking again but I am determined and know I will. After your story and others I read on stem cell I know for sure I will recover fully. How did you get accepted for treatment in China and whats the average cost? I pray and hope for your continued progress and a full recovery. You made it a long way and God is Great he will see you through it.
Regards,
Diana Jaipaul
Trinidad
4. Alejandra | June 27th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Hola David soy Urugauya no hablo ingles me gustaria conocer mas de tu historia realmente no la vi pero me han informado sobre lo tuyo en discovery
Gracias
Alejanadra
5. Michele Bussell | August 15th, 2008 at 1:23 am
Hello David, I am doing research about stem cell therapy for spinal cord injury for a friend whose 18 yr old son is presently at Craig Hospital in Colorado for rehab. He has a T5 complete ASI A and I am trying to find some results through stem cells for a similar type and level of injury. Can you please tell me you original injury level? I am so glad to hear of your improvement.
blessings,
Michele Bussell
6. wow power leveling | March 13th, 2009 at 9:28 am
A bird in the hand is worth than two in the bush
7. jane chadwick | March 27th, 2009 at 2:08 am
Dear David,
i want to say how brave you are to try treatment in china that is not yet available to many spinal injured people in the western world. im so happy for you that your life has improved with stem cell treatment and that you had the courage to try.
i am writing to you to ask you which hospital in china you have had your stem cell treatment as i would like the details for my son Domonic 23yrs old. He had an accident on holiday when he fell from a hotel walkway and broke his neck at c7 level and has incomplete spinal cord injury. He is paralysed from the chest down and has been told he will not walk again. He tries to keep fit and stands for 2 hours in a standing frame, and uses an F.E.S bike every day. He had his accident on August 13th 2008, and came out of N.H.S. hospital in January this year. He had a lot of publicity here, as he was a second year sports student at Liverpool university, and was on the B.B.C news. He has a very positive determined outlook on life, and feels that one day he will walk again.
We have talked about stem cell treatment in China, as i feel this to be his only hope of further recovery.
I hope you continue to recover and reach your goal of walking again. good luck to you and thankyou for sharing your journey on the internet. hope to hear from you soon, love jane.
8. lita ferrer | August 27th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
I will pray for your complete recovery.. GOD IS GOOD, remember that.
I am interested with stem cell therapy for my mom,. She is having retinitis pigmentosa , she can only see lights. She’s been blind for almost 20 years now but she still hoping to see the beauty of the world someday.
Please let us know how to get approval for treatment in china and how much money we need to prepare for this prcedure including treatment.
Thank you and GOD Bless.
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