STEPHANIE
COPELAND, Princess
On Wheels.
After a car accident on April 14, 2004. I broke my back at the 10th thoracic vertabrae, broke several ribs, punctured one lung, and sustained a minor head injury. My spinal cord was smashed.
Physical therapists taught me how to balance my body and transfer in and out of my chair. Occupational therapists educated me about life in a wheelchair and sent me home to get used to this different type of mobility and new routine.
From March, 2006 to April 2008, I have been part of 3 different programs throughout the US, 2 in California and one in Texas. These intensive exercise based recovery programs believe that people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) have another option for recovery.
Exercise-based therapy and the attention given to paralyzed parts have reduced the number of times SCI patients return to the hospital with pressure sores and diseases associated with an SCI. The therapy helps to improve circulation, bone density, muscle mass, and cardiovascular health. Many participants have shown increases in voluntary movement, sensation & nerve connection. The amazing science of exercise therapy has shown miraculous results and it is now my passion to educate others about possibilities for recovery.
In April 2008, I was 1 of the first 6 Americans to travel to Lima, Peru to receive my first stem cell treatment. Yes stem cells are very controversial in society these days, but what the average person is not familiar with the different types of stem cells available. When someone hears "stem cells" they automatically think embryonic/fetal stem cells, but they do not know that there are several other places to get stem cells in the body. The cells I received were taken from the umbilical cord after birth. During the 2 weeks we were there, we received 3 injections of (100 million total) neuron stem cells and 5 growth factors to help the cells differentiate and grow. It was an unforgettable trip to Peru and it was awesome to see another country besides the US.
Five weeks after returning to Texas after treatment, I made my first voluntary movement with my legs. While on the edge of the therapy table with feet hanging off, Nito said, “Ok, kick your right foot up!” and what-do-ya-know… My quad fired and my leg appeared to be straight, from what the mirror was displaying. Well, maybe the mirror is broken so let’s try again. Nito repeated, “Kick your foot up.” And, Nope! The mirror wasn’t lying. I had made my first, official, full voluntary movement with my legs in 4 years. I was able to kick my foot up to fully extend my leg. I repeated the movement a few more times by myself, but it had to be tired from doing its first exercises on its own in 4 years. Yeah!!!
In the new future I expect to have further treatments with Nerve Growth Factor, Neurotrphins, Neuropeptide Protein, Riluzole, Minocycline, Electric Field Stimulation, Anti-RHO and Anti-NOGO and Autologous Stem Stem Cells. In the meantime I am continuing with my physical rehabilitation program with the aim for recovery as my ultimate goal. In addition, I am also planning to start at a Spinal Cord Treatment Center in Tampa, Florida on or before March 1,2009.
I’m working for Stem Cell Regen Med under Dr. Burton Feinerman, who coordinated my trip to Peru. My position will include several office duties, including speaking to patients about treatments & coordinating their trips. You could call me his “right-hand woman.” I have also recently been asked to become a peer mentor with the Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center in Tampa. I will be mentoring to new patients with injuries, setting goals with them while also giving them the resources to further their recovery & getting back to independence.
To contact Stephanie Copeland,
click here.
To contact Burton Feinerman, M.D. regarding
Stem Cell Treatments for Spinal Cord injury, click
here.
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