The first patient to undergo an adult stem cell procedure that may help spinal cord injury patients regain function had an injection Thursday that may change the course of medical history.
Sitting in his den Thursday morning, surrounded by pictures of Dr. John, Matt Cole, the patient, was cool, calm and collected. His wife Kim was with him, and he answered questions for documentation of the medical procedure he was about to undertake – an injection of his stem cells into his spinal cord that may help him regain use of his lower body.
Cole, 30, was injured in Iraq during his second tour of duty. A corporal in the U. S. Marine Corps, his day of infamy was May 17, 2005. Insurgents attacked with mortars and rockets and he was hit with shrapnel in the back and right lung. As a result, he suffered a spinal cord injury and a collapsed lung. His was treated on the site by corpsman and then flown to a MASH unit. There he was put under, stabilized and sent to a hospital in Germ-any. “I was supposed to die,” Cole said.
Four days later he was flown from Germany to the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland and later he went to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Tampa for rehab and physical therapy.
His long, grueling road back included physical therapy, occupational therapy, recreational therapy and learning how to adjust to his new life—in a wheelchair.
He learned how to get off the floor, how open and close doors and how to get from the bed to the wheelchair, among other tasks.
Through it all, his mother Diane said, “He kept in good spirits and has never been anything other than positive.”
He said, “Kim was the first one to the hospital and has stayed by me ever since.” They were dating at the time and are now married, expecting their first child. Kim is an adaptive physical education teacher for St. Tammany Parish.
Conscientious about his physical therapy, Cole has continued exercising and keeping himself fit, hoping that one day he would be able to find a medical solution that would help him get out of the wheelchair.
“Keeping a positive attitude is key, along with a strong faith in God and staying in shape. You can really fall into a hole, so it’s important to remain positive and keep up with what’s out there in research, anything that can improve your quality of life,” said Cole.
His doctors in Tampa told him there was a lot of research being done through stem cell therapy and that eventually it will done in the U.S. The best time to try to stimulate the peripheral nerves surrounding the injury that would help regain function is when the injury is fresh. As time went on, his doctors knew he was not going to regain function and eventually gave him an 8 percent chance of standing alone on his own.
At one point, he and his wife Kim considered going to Portugal, where they were conducting stem cell spinal cord research.
However, he didn’t have to. “It was in my own backyard,” said Cole. “My mother-in-law, Barbara Eckert, found out about the research here in Covington from her paper, the St. Tammany News.”
Dr. Gabriel Lasala and Dr. Jose Minguell of Tchefuncte Cardiovascular Associates, were conducting research in Covington.
The doctors have many adult stem cell protocols in various phases, all approved by the FDA, treating many types of cardiovascular problems, ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease and were applying for approval of spinal cord injury treatments.
Cole is their first case.
“When I met him (Lasala), he seemed impressed with me-young healthy, keeping up with physical therapy. After a CT scan of my spinal cord, he said I was a good candidate and was accepeted into the program. The doctors at the VA in Tampa were ecstatic, very excited and wanted to talk to Lasala. They were excited that one of their patients was chosen to be the first.”
Months ago, MCS or Mesenchymal stem cells were removed from Cole’s bone marrow in his hip. He said that since he had no feeling, he did not experience a lot of discomfort. He slept through the procedure and had no ill effects, or soreness, after.
The MSC stem cells are used because they can differentiate into a variety of cells types and can regenerate damaged tissues such as bone, muscle, heart muscle and tendons. The MSC cells were placed in a incubator and expanded.
Between 50-80 million cells were needed for this neurological procedure. In other procedures, the cells are mixed with endothelial progenitor cells that circulate in the bloodstream. Since this was not a heart procedure and the bloodstream was not used, these cells were not added for Cole’s procedure.
Once the cells expanded, they are checked before injection. In this case, the cells were never kept in the cryo-preservation freezer, but came from the incubator to Cole directly. “The cells dictate when it’s time for the procedure,” said Jacquie Bonano, spokesperson for Lasala’s group. The group founded the Stem Cell Foundation, established to promote adult stem cell research and therapies and help with medical costs.
Thursday, Cole had the MCS cells injected into his spinal cord. After spending the night in hospital, he was released Friday morning.
The cells used are called autologous cells because they are from the patient. TCA’s research only uses the patient’s own cells and no one else’s cells are ever injected into a patient.
Cole said, “I am reassured that the procedure is backed by the government and the FDA. It’s good to have the regulations to help the patients.”
Cole said he was optimistic about the procedure and would naturally want to walk again, but even so, “I hope what they can learn from me can help everyone and may be available for insurance coverage and the VA to use.”
It will be a while before any measurable results will be realized. Meanwhile, Cole will go back to his regular routine. After speaking to his doctors in Tampa and consulting with Lasala, he has decided to enter into a rigorous physical therapy routine, including swimming.
“Everyone that lives in a chair wants to get out of it. I want to be the one that proves the doctors wrong. I’m grateful that Dr. Lasala would consider me, since I’m five years since my injury. For not being from the United States, he is very patriotic and was excited to have a veteran as a patient. He wants to be in Covington and create a center of medicine here. He loves St. Tammany and Louisiana and doesn’t want to be anywhere else.”
In the hospital room, Kim said, “It’s such a simple procedure for a miracle.”
By Debbie Glover
St. Tammany News
Cole & Kim,
Please let us know how Cole does. Eddy had a incomplete sci in August of 2003 with much chronic pain and not any use of his arms and hands and some movement of his legs and feet. He started deep brain stimulation in January 2008 for his chronic pain and has since then had 5 battery packs replaced due to the voltage going dead. We are both from Michigan.
Sincerely,
Marcia Tarzwell
Best of luck Cole and Family!!
There are great advances being made in Germany, injecting stem cells into spinal fluid to treat spinal cord injury also in China treating spinal cord injuries, stroke, cerebral palsy and brain injury — http://www.sinostemcells.com/
But we want this therapy in the USA as well!
Our best hopes and prayers are with you.
Hi. I’m a student nurse here in the Philippines. Please update us of how cole is doing, I’m very much hopeful of his recovery. He deserve it, he never gave up and we should all be like him. Cole, you are an inspiration.
Hi I myself had a SCI 20 years ago. I am always looking out for the miracle procedure. I know it is on the verge of becoming real. Wether it helps me or others I am thrilled. Just wish it would be sooner than later. I am a person that loves breaking the norm. Please let me know how you are doing and what you think of stem cell procedure you underwent. Would love to do it myself.
TCA are frauds. They’ve already been trying to charge people $20,000 for treatment prior to this “clinical trial.” Their animal data can’t be found and their method of cell delivery, intrathecally, has never been proven to be an effective method for administering cells to the spinal cord. These patients will just reject the cells over time. It’s a real shame because once this trial is proven to be unsuccessful, average people will start to doubt stem cell research altogether.
I forgot to mention that I am a strong supporter of all stem cell research and I have a spinal cord injury myself. I want a treatment just as fast as this couple, but I don’t want to see people taken advantage of, or the science exploited for financial gain.
I am very interested in hearing an update. I also have a sci as a result of transverse myelitis,and my hands are paralyzed.
hi,
just want to know, how were u able to keep up with the expenses…my father suffered from C3_C6 injury and drained all our resources..is there a program that can help with our concern, tanx n keep inspiring.
Charlene
Beware of clinics who rely on marketing adverts and patient testamonials. I am sick of finding the same clinics on the net claiming that their patients have improved through the stem cell treatment recieved. All they show is testamonials of people saying that they have improved trunk control and gained a little feel or movement, A patient kept saying if i had the money i would go again. well that statement says it all. you still arent happy with the treatment and they have bled you dry already.