PUNE: After being bed-ridden for three years due to a paralysis attack, 57-year-old Sushma Wartikar had lost all hopes of leading a normal life till she opted for stem cell therapy in July this year. After two shots of stem cells, now with slight improvement in her health, hopes of a better life have rekindled.

“My wife Sushma had paralytic attack three years ago, which affected her left side. She was unable to get up from the bed. We provided physiotherapy for two years, but there was negligible progress,” Avinash Wartikar told Sakaal Times.

Wartikar came across articles regarding stem cell therapy in the newspapers. “We gathered information about stem cell treatment from newspapers. I came across a website www.stemcell.com. I got the details of city-based stem cell therapy specialists Stem One. We had the information that even paralysis could be treated using this method,” he said.

Stem cells are cells with the potential to develop into many different types of cells in the body. They serve as a repair system for the body. The process of injecting stem cells into a person or organism to repair specific tissues is called stem cell therapy. It is also known as regenerative medicine.

“We enquired with a couple of patients undergoing a similar treatment and consulted neurosurgeons. They had given us positive feedback. This gave the confidence to go ahead with the therapy. We then started the treatment on July 7, when she received the first injection. The second shot was given to Sushma on July 13,” he said.

Commenting on her health status, Sushma Wartikar said that her health was  improving. “I was completely bed-ridden. I had no control over my left arm. Now after receiving two injections, I have better control over my arm. I can even walk slowly with the help of a splint and elbow stick,” she said.

After entering into severe depression, she is now regaining her lost self-confidence. The happiness is also gradually returning in her life. “There was distortion in her mouth as well and she was unable to speak. Now, things have improved,” Stem One Biologicals Chairman and MD Chaitanya Purandare said. In January, six months of treatment period will end. After that first MRI post therapy would be taken up. If the report shows encouraging results, then the next line of action would be decided by the neurosurgeon.

“The patient has revived the physiotherapy sessions. However, it must be also realised that the therapy is not a complete cure. It would result in improved quality of life,” Stem One Chief Counsellor, Neha Bhaskare said. (For details contact 020-25451509, or email: stemone.therapy@gmail.com).

FURTHER INFOStem cells are characterised by ability to renew themselves through mitotic cell division and differentiating into a diverse range of specialised cell types