TREATMENT LOCATION: Xiaoshan Hospital,
Hang Zhou, China
PRIOR TO TREATMENT: Justin received a complete evaluation by an independent ophthalmologist
who had been chosen by his parents. After review of all the required medical documentation he was accepted into Beike's
case study program for ONH and was the ninth child to be treated. His clinical exam prior to treatment revealed the following
per his own ophthalmologist; "small hypoplastic nerves in both eyes" otherwise his eye structure was normal and
fully intact. The nerves were described by his doctor as being "extremely small in size" with a probable "severely
diminished level" of functioning axons. His diagnosis was confirmed with an MRI scan and a VEP test. Optic
photos were also obtained. Justin's doctor also assessed his Pupilary response which did not show a significant
decrease in response or reaction. This indicated that Justin possibly had some minimal level of light perception. Justin's
mother states "he has always had some light perception, but NEVER has locked eyes on a light and tracked it or reached
out for it. He was always looking up at the sun or bright lights in a room before".
Upon
arrival to the hospital in Hang Zhou Justin was examined by our staff doctors as well as our lead doctor who is known to all
as Dr. Mike He felt Justin had a "slight reaction" to the flashlight test indicating that he "possibly
had some light perception" but did not feel Justin could "see objects at all".
The parents
hope for the treatment outcome: "To give Justin some visual capabilities in life. We don't expect
anything close to 20/20 vision. We just want him to be able to appreciate some of the amazing things to see in this
world".
Treatment Plan: 2 Stem Cell Transfusion via IV and 2 Stem Cell Injections via spinal.
In addition Nerve Growth Factors and Cord Serum were to be given with each Stem Cell Transplant procedure.
Upon
arrival to the hospital in Hang Zhou Justin was examined by our staff doctors as well as our lead doctor who is known to all
as Dr. Mike He felt Justin had a "slight reaction" to the flashlight test indicating that he "possibly
had some light perception" but did not feel Justin could "see objects at all".
First Stem Cell Transfusion
was given via IV on Monday February 18th, 2008.
The first day post treatment (Tuesday February 19th):
Justin's parents began to notice some behavioral changes in him the morning after his first stem cell treatment. His mother
reported that he was laughing while lying in his crib even though no one was playing with him and he had no toys or stimulus
around him. His mom said he has never really laughed before so it was very strange for him to just be laughing like
that. Then they noted he seemed to be looking at things and stated that they thought it just had to be wishful thinking
but as the day progressed he kept showing odd behaviors that indicated that he was actually looking at things. In the
afternoon they asked the primary doctor on his case to come in and check him. Both his primary physician and the units
lead physician went in to check on him. They again performed the flashlight test and he positively responded to the light.
Kirshner Ross-Vaden, who heads the optic case studies happened to be in Hang Zhou at the time, was notified.
Her statement of the events follows: I saw Justin when he arrived at the hospital and assessed him myself
and he had no visual response and did not respond to light at all. On Monday afternoon he had is first stem cell transfusion
via IV and the next day his parents began to notice some very odd behaviors in him.
In the afternoon I was notified
that Justin was responding to light while I was at my hotel nearby the hospital. I grabbed my camera and 10 minutes
later I was in his room. I checked him using a flashing ball with the lights in the room very dimmed but not totally
dark and all be darn Justin looked right at that ball. Not only did he target the ball with his eyes he then tracked
it as I moved it back and forth. I then turned all the lights on in the room to see if he could still do it and sure
enough he tracked that ball. Not only could he see it and follow it but he also reached out and hit it several times
with his hand. He was able to target it with his hand each time I moved it to another location in front of him.
I tested him at about 8 to 10 inches away from his face and got no response but moved it closer a little at a time.
At 4 to 5 inches in front of his face he looked at it, followed it and reached out and hit it every single time. This
event was literally only 25 hours post his first stem cell transplant.
