| Ian Wood (60) and Moira Ogilvie (50) will be among the first people in the UK to take advantage of the treatment, which is hoped will dramatically improve their quality of life.
The treatment will be provided by cells4health.com, a company specialising in using stem cell therapy to treat a range of illnesses, such as heart defects, as well as helping to repair spinal damage suffered through injury.
Using the treatment for multiple sclerosis is still in its infancy, but both Ian and Moira are hoping it will prove a success.
They will both have cells removed from bone marrow in their hip. From these, scientists identify regenerating cells and these are injected into the patient’s spinal column to repair damaged tissue.
Ian said that after living with MS for nearly 40 years, he was hoping the treatment could make his life easier.
He was diagnosed with the disease in 1973 but first exhibited symptoms in 1969. He has spent the last 12 years in a wheelchair.
“What we are hoping for is an improvement in our quality of life,” he said.
“They have been working for years with people who have other problems but only started working with people with MS in October.
“I don’t think there are many people from the UK who have tried the treatment yet.
“It is expensive but luckily both Moira and I have very generous relatives who are helping to pay for it.”
Ian heard about the treatment from a MS discussion group on the Internet and then contacted cells4health.com.
“I received a phone call that evening from one of their doctors offering me treatment in the New Year,” he said.
“Basically, they take cells from the bone marrow in your own hip and then inject them into your spinal fluid.”
Although Ian and Moira, who both attend the Mackinnon Centre in Broughty Ferry, are aware there is no miracle cure for MS, they have high hopes for the treatment.
“The results on other patients with MS have been positive so far,” said Ian.
“I think there are a lot of possibilities for stem cell treatment.” |
