Alzheimer's and Dementia Patient Stories
Josephine Stramiello (82 years old), Alzheimer's
Home-Country USA
Before Stem Cell Therapy
I was taking Aricept and gradually losing my ability to think clearly or remember names, dates and current information. I went into a drug study which helped somewhat. I have had Alzheimer's for 12 years. My daughter Laura and son Joseph found out about the Stem Cell treatment and I had my First Stem Cell treatment in 2008. I had my Second Stem Cell treatment 7 months later in November 2009.
The facility was an extremely clean hospital. The staff was very cordial and hospitable. The procedure was performed by the most competent doctors. You can tell this when they explain the procedure to you before hand. They answered all questions and spent as much time as you wanted, answering all of your concerns. They made you feel safe, which was important to me and my family.
My Results
Although my short term memory improved only slightly, I have retained many skills. Dressing, makeup, reading, identifying pictures, numbers and some writing with supervision. I can still converse, although I have trouble with finding some words. I still help prepare dinner and fold clothes. I make my bed and walk everyday. I believe the Stem Cell treatment slowed the time frame of my deterioration. It has given me more time with my family.
Home-Country USA
Before Stem Cell Therapy
I was taking Aricept and gradually losing my ability to think clearly or remember names, dates and current information. I went into a drug study which helped somewhat. I have had Alzheimer's for 12 years. My daughter Laura and son Joseph found out about the Stem Cell treatment and I had my First Stem Cell treatment in 2008. I had my Second Stem Cell treatment 7 months later in November 2009.
The facility was an extremely clean hospital. The staff was very cordial and hospitable. The procedure was performed by the most competent doctors. You can tell this when they explain the procedure to you before hand. They answered all questions and spent as much time as you wanted, answering all of your concerns. They made you feel safe, which was important to me and my family.
My Results
Although my short term memory improved only slightly, I have retained many skills. Dressing, makeup, reading, identifying pictures, numbers and some writing with supervision. I can still converse, although I have trouble with finding some words. I still help prepare dinner and fold clothes. I make my bed and walk everyday. I believe the Stem Cell treatment slowed the time frame of my deterioration. It has given me more time with my family.
Giulia Serafini (78 years old), Dementia
Video Documentary from Ms. Serafini's Family
Before Stem Cell Therapy
One day I noticed that my mother began to forget things. During the following months, step by step, the disease affected her walking until she was ultimately confined to a wheelchair. I remember that her walking was tentative due to hallucinations and imaginary hurdles. She could only manage a few steps, leaning on two people with bent legs almost touching almost the ground. Sometimes, when there was only one person to hold her, she would fall down on the ground crying, yelling and calling "mummy." Up to three people were needed to take her to bed or to the restroom.
She used to have hallucinations all the time. Even when sitting on the sofa, she was looking for "something" or trying to catch and throw away imaginary threads. In addition to that, she used to speak unintelligibly; uttering absolute nonsense.
She used to look anywhere, talking to imaginary people with her eyes and mouth wide open and salivating from time-to-time. She recognized neither relatives nor even herself. She did not recognize her own possessions. She stopped eating. When she did eat, it could have anything at any time, even inedible objects. She had lost all sense of modesty.
She became permanently incontinent. She would curl up while lying in bed; her muscles as stiff as wood. If we tried to stretch her arms and legs, she would scream at us. Her cognitive functions were so impaired that she would not respond to normal stimuli. She would not eat or drink. During the daytime, all she did was scream and cry, calling or seeing dead people for hours. During a brief period of time she did not sleep, even after taking prescription medication. Her face had lost all expression and emotion and she began losing a lot of weight.
It was at this point that I made the decision to take her for a stem cell treatment even though our doctors, professors and even by my brother disagreed and tried to dissuade me.
After Stem Cell Therapy
When we arrived at the center, Giulia did nothing but scream. However, just one hour after her lumbar puncture procedure, I approached her bed and asked her if she knew who I was. She replied, "You are my little daughter." I asked her if she knew my name and she told me, "You are my Mariellina."
"...my mother has regained the ability to ...recognize close relatives...
With tears in my eyes, I asked her, "Mamma, do you know where we are?" She answered, "We are in a hospital in Germany." She also recognized the doctor who had just performed her lumbar puncture.
Later that evening at the hotel, she slept throughout the night without showing any side effects. The following day, she was able to go to the restroom by herself. She had not felt the urge to go to the bathroom in a long time. She walked to the bathroom without hesitation. While in the bathroom, she recognized her face in the mirror and then tried to arrange her disheveled hair. She even showed interest in personal hygiene. During the trip back to Italy, she made conversation and sang songs with me; clapping her hands correctly to the rhythm.
During the following months, my mother has regained the ability to select food, eat by herself, and recognize close relatives, our house and her belongings.
Now, only at night when she is very tired, she sometimes shows past symptoms of hallucinations and detachment.
In general, I can say that after stem cell therapy, her memory has improved (dreams/events/ prayers/ music/films). Her physical abilities, have improved. She is walking more steadily. She is more stable emotionally as well. To me these are all positive signs of cell regeneration; especially in comparison to my mother`s physical and emotional condition prior to treatment.
*Original Italian Composition by Mariella, Mrs. Serafini's Daughter
Video Documentary from Ms. Serafini's Family
Before Stem Cell Therapy
One day I noticed that my mother began to forget things. During the following months, step by step, the disease affected her walking until she was ultimately confined to a wheelchair. I remember that her walking was tentative due to hallucinations and imaginary hurdles. She could only manage a few steps, leaning on two people with bent legs almost touching almost the ground. Sometimes, when there was only one person to hold her, she would fall down on the ground crying, yelling and calling "mummy." Up to three people were needed to take her to bed or to the restroom.
She used to have hallucinations all the time. Even when sitting on the sofa, she was looking for "something" or trying to catch and throw away imaginary threads. In addition to that, she used to speak unintelligibly; uttering absolute nonsense.
She used to look anywhere, talking to imaginary people with her eyes and mouth wide open and salivating from time-to-time. She recognized neither relatives nor even herself. She did not recognize her own possessions. She stopped eating. When she did eat, it could have anything at any time, even inedible objects. She had lost all sense of modesty.
She became permanently incontinent. She would curl up while lying in bed; her muscles as stiff as wood. If we tried to stretch her arms and legs, she would scream at us. Her cognitive functions were so impaired that she would not respond to normal stimuli. She would not eat or drink. During the daytime, all she did was scream and cry, calling or seeing dead people for hours. During a brief period of time she did not sleep, even after taking prescription medication. Her face had lost all expression and emotion and she began losing a lot of weight.
It was at this point that I made the decision to take her for a stem cell treatment even though our doctors, professors and even by my brother disagreed and tried to dissuade me.
After Stem Cell Therapy
When we arrived at the center, Giulia did nothing but scream. However, just one hour after her lumbar puncture procedure, I approached her bed and asked her if she knew who I was. She replied, "You are my little daughter." I asked her if she knew my name and she told me, "You are my Mariellina."
"...my mother has regained the ability to ...recognize close relatives...
With tears in my eyes, I asked her, "Mamma, do you know where we are?" She answered, "We are in a hospital in Germany." She also recognized the doctor who had just performed her lumbar puncture.
Later that evening at the hotel, she slept throughout the night without showing any side effects. The following day, she was able to go to the restroom by herself. She had not felt the urge to go to the bathroom in a long time. She walked to the bathroom without hesitation. While in the bathroom, she recognized her face in the mirror and then tried to arrange her disheveled hair. She even showed interest in personal hygiene. During the trip back to Italy, she made conversation and sang songs with me; clapping her hands correctly to the rhythm.
During the following months, my mother has regained the ability to select food, eat by herself, and recognize close relatives, our house and her belongings.
Now, only at night when she is very tired, she sometimes shows past symptoms of hallucinations and detachment.
In general, I can say that after stem cell therapy, her memory has improved (dreams/events/ prayers/ music/films). Her physical abilities, have improved. She is walking more steadily. She is more stable emotionally as well. To me these are all positive signs of cell regeneration; especially in comparison to my mother`s physical and emotional condition prior to treatment.
*Original Italian Composition by Mariella, Mrs. Serafini's Daughter