German researchers have successfully used stem cell therapy to a paralyzed patient to walk again. Then too with the help of adult stem cell.

To describe, everything starts with an accident, that left Dave Castner paralyzed , way back in March 12, 2007. Castner was rushed to the hospital where he learned that his neck was broken and he was paralyzed from the chest down.Two weeks ago, Castner returned from Germany where he received a stem cell transplant, which may eventually help him walk again.Already Castner has more body function than his doctors ever expected him to.

The researchers harvested bone marrow from his hip, condensed it down to the cells and injected it into his lumbar vertebrae.The whole procedure took two visits to the doctor’s office that were about 45 minutes each.

Castner was 35 at the time of the accident. He was young and healthy. He tried to be empathetic with his parishioners, but when he talked to people about their problems, he didn’t always feel like they were convinced he knew what he was talking about. Now when he comes rolling in in a wheelchair, there’s more of a connection. People realize he knows of what he speaks.

In the words of Castner,

“So much of your healing has to do with your mind-set, he said. Whether you’re Christian or not, you need to be positive. Being Christian just helps me to be positive.In a sense, I feel like I’ve been given a second chance. My life is much different now … I feel I’m a better husband. I think I’m a better father. I think it’s definitely made me a better pastor.”

Castner doesn’t know if he’ll walk again. His prognosis says he won’t, but he’s already ahead of where doctors thought he would be. He hopes to walk, but he’s at peace with spending his life in a wheelchair.

Source: greatfallstribune.com