In 2015, Chris Baer was invited to participate in a groundbreaking experiment at the Mayo Clinic. The study involved transplanting stem cells into the spine of paraplegics to replenish damaged nerve cells and restore the transmission of electrical signals from the brain to the muscles.
Chris, who had been paralyzed in his entire body except for his head and lived in a nursing home, was the first participant in the trial. Stem cells were collected from his body, grown in a laboratory to 100 million cells, and then injected into his lumbar spine.
More than five years later, doctors reported that Chris had experienced a remarkable transformation. He was now able to walk and move his limbs, thanks to the regenerative properties of stem cells.
The results of the experiment showed that seven out of ten patients experienced muscle movement in previously paralyzed areas and were even able to feel different types of touch, including light sensations. Three patients did not respond to the stem cell therapy, but their condition did not worsen either.
Dr. Lior Unger, deputy director of the neurosurgery department at Sheba Tel Hashomer Medical Center, described the treatment as a significant breakthrough in medicine. “Stem cells’ ability to differentiate into different types of cells was harnessed to heal damaged nerve cells in the spinal cord,” he said. While more research is needed to determine if paralysis can be fully cured, this treatment showcases the potential of stem cells and their role in the future of medicine.”
