PRESCOTT - Two years ago, Aubra "Phil" Phillips just about had enough of living with Parkinson's disease.
"I was about ready to commit suicide," he said from his Prescott Valley home. "I was stumbling around, falling, had the shakes and I slurred my words."
Today, after two stem cell transplant surgeries at the XCell-Center in Cologne, Germany, Phil walks and talks like any other healthy, articulate 59-year-old grandfather.
"I noticed a change the very first day after his first operation," said his wife Donna, who watched Parkinson's disease steadily eat at Phil's body and mind for the past 22 years. "He didn't shuffle anymore and he smiled again."
According to the National Institutes for Health, Parkinson's disease is a chronic, degenerative neurological disorder. There is no definitive test for Parkinson's disease and its symptoms are similar to other neurological conditions, which causes a high rate of misdiagnosis, according to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research website.
Doctors treat Parkinson's victims with a smorgasbord of medication, vitamins and exercises.
"You have to take some pills for the disease, and then you have to take more pills to counteract the side effects of the other pills," Phil said. "Pretty soon, you're taking pills for fake diseases that were created by the other pills."
Certain brain cells produce a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical messenger that transmits signals within the brain to control coordination. When those cells die, causing Parkinson's symptoms, doctors give patients drugs that cause brain cells to produce dopamine.
However, because there is no cure for Parkinson's, drugs mask symptoms without curing the disease. Symptoms include tremors, balance problems, lack of facial expressions and slow movements. The disease usually starts on one side of the body and migrates to the other.
"I was relatively happy and we were dealing with it until it started on my other side," Phil said.
After Phil's son, Michael, told him that he did not want Phil to carry his granddaughters anymore because of his balance problems, he started researching alternative methods.
"The XCell-Center uses my stem cells taken from my hip," Phil said. "Everyone thinks of embryonic stem cells, but that's not the only kind that can be used."
Phil and Donna flew to Germany in December 2008 for a lumbar puncture operation. He returned recently from his second operation. Surgery requires a patient to stay in Germany four to five days and costs about $10,000.
"The first day, they took the cells from my hip," he said. "We spent the next couple of days at the hotel sightseeing, and then you go back and they inject the cells into your spinal fluid. You have to rest for 36 hours and then go back for a final check up."
Donna said that humor is the couple's best weapon against Phil's disease.
"It's all about your attitude," Phil said. "There are no guarantees this operation works for everyone and the doctors tell you that.
"It was a long shot, but it was worth it."
"It was like turning a light bulb back on," Donna said. "He's laughing and smiling again. He wakes up every morning in a good mood. He started bowling and joined a league."
Donna said that going to a Parkinson's support group gave the couple hope and tools to deal with Phil's disease.
In spite of his disease, Phil worked as a heavy equipment operator until he retired in 2002. However, he is now helping the Prescott Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10227 build a VFW Hall.
"Before, I was angry at everything and put a lot of stress on my wife," Phil said. "Now, I enjoy being awake and taking care of the house for her."
On March 9, 2009, President Barack Obama issued Executive Order 13505: Removing Barriers to Responsible Scientific Research Involving Human Stem Cells. Interested persons may read and download the text at http://stemcells.nih.gov/.
To learn more about the XCell-Center, visit www.xcell-center.com.
A wealth of information about Parkinson's disease is available at www.michaeljfox.org/.
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
Not here, not ever.
Ironic: The reason that prices are cheaper in other countries is not because they subsidize them with taxes. It's because in the USA prices quoted by hospitals for surgeries and procedures are artificially increased to about 7-10 times what they really are to make a profit. You hear that a bypass costs 100k here. That's the price for an uninsured patient, the kind they make you sign over your house to before they'll take you (true). But they really recieve 1/10 of that from Medicare and do well. So you can just go to Australia and have the same surgery for 10 grand cash money, airfare for you and your wife included. Most people don't understand that about US healthcare. They look at some hospital bill and say "wow, it cost $30,000 for my pacemaker". Nope, it cost about $6,000, they just put that number on your bill because that's the way they've always done it. And do you think the new healthcare bill even addresses that? Think again.
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
Preskitt Joe
Don't ya just love this "Christian" nation we live in where one of our own has to go to another country to get the life saving care they deserve? Mr. Phillips thanks for giving hope to us that have serious medical conditions and know that the so called "Christians" here will do anything to stop medical coverage for all and try to stop advancing all forms of scientific research. I thought Christ's primary teachings was to love and help one another. I guess only certain people get those benefits. Mr. Phillips, again thank you for the info and I hope you enjoy your new lease on life!
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
Can you read I.M. looking forward?
My best to Mr. Phillips.
I.M.,
This article is about xcells, not stem cells. But that didn't stop you from attacking G.W. Bush did it?
I'm all for science. But destroying a human life to gain spare parts for another human life is wrong.
It's common knowledge that abortion rights people are using stem cell research as an arugument for abortion.
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
WaitWut?
It baffles me how this country was once the leader in technology and medicine, but has fallen so far behind. There are several reasons, but not one single good excuse.
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
GOP = Greed Over People
How many "other" Millions of people did Bush and the Republicans kill, maim or torture with their "Dark Ages" ideology.
I hope Honest people are PAYING ATTENTION, this Decade long Right Wing Legacy of Death, Destruction and crushing Debt is something We should NEVER allow to happen to America EVER again, through the power of our Votes!
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
Ironic....
Amazing. Are these the same regular blogger's who are offended by "illegal's" who come to the US and receive medical care??? And to put a story on the front page that encourages the exploitation of medical care from a foreign government!!
Do you not see the irony here?
Look at the incredible numbers of Americans crossing borders (North and South) to pick up prescription drugs, receive dental care and have medical treatments done at discount prices! Why is that stuff cheaper over there? Oh, it is taxes and government supported. But wait.....you border-crossing, international-traveling Americans are not paying taxes there or supporting that governmental system. You are exploiting it.
The difference between this story and the editorial or criticism of the foreigner who gets in line for a flu shot or receives emergency care (while they are performing the low-pay-menial-service-based labor that you turn your nose up at) here in the USA is unclear.
Either direction you cross, you are using a governmental system designed to support the people of that country AND their visitors!
Do unto others as you wish others to do unto you!
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
Maveth
I.M.: Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Bush just "kill" embryonic stem cell research, and not adult stem cell? If I recall correctly, the only useful medical treatments have been achieved with adult stem cells (as in this case), while the benefits of embryonic have only been touted and promised. Seems to me they should focus more on adult stem cell research, since it is proven to actually work.
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
Not here, not ever.
OK now here comes the onslaught of comments about US healthcare, and why your insurance should pay for stuff like this yadda yadda. Get this straight people: you'll never get this therapy in the US and if you could insurance wouldn't cover it. 10 grand is a bargain for what he got, cheaper than a decent used car. If this was available in the US the price would be 100 grand, maybe more. We have way more restrictions here so the latest treatments take about 4 years to get here after being used in Europe. It's always been that way. Coronary stents were being put in there 4 years before they were approved here and we were still getting the old balloon jobs lol. Medicated stents were the same story. All doctors know this, but the patients still think we're "all that" when it comes to medical breakthroughs. Not.
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
This is news? Millions of immigrants come here for health care, and the the new law will make it free to anyone who is illegal.
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
I.M.Looking forward
Stem cell research was one of those things that Bush and his administration killed. There were benefits to it as Phil found out. If you don't believe in science, you should get out of the way. When it comes down to it, people want to live and they want health care.
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
don margolis
Germany is good, but then there is Tujuana for ALS stem cells, China for kids' optic nerve problems, Central America for CP, MS, Autism, COPD and Diabetes. My little blog will show you how to find them--no embryonics ever!
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
Chandra kanta Malkani
I am a patient of "Polymyositis" for the last 14 years and have been consuming steroids, Imuran, Mathotrestate. But recently because of consuming high quanitity of steroids, I have developed "osteophorisis" causing damage to my vertabacolumns (compression fracture). Is there any cure for this "Polymyositis" and Osteophorisis to get rid of the disease. Waiting for your reply thru e-mail.
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
Putin
This is nothing new.My family goes to Europe for major medical since 2003.
It's not only cheaper but it also produces results.
American public is just too ignorant to figure their own "Healthcare" and no matter what Obama tries to do is met with typical American attitude. So the smart ones go overseas.Nothing personal....
