'Hope is my ally'
Former PSU student receives stem-cell treatment to treat spinal injuries
Krystel Pakitsos
Issue date: 5/7/09 Section: After Hours
David Francis was an average boy. Growing up in Golden City, Mo., he was ornery, loved the outdoors, hanging out with friends and getting his hands dirty working on cars.
He was just beginning his second semester in the PSU automotive program when his whole life changed. One morning in 2006 when David, his dad, uncle and sister were driving to Joplin, their tire exploded, leaving his father fighting for control of the vehicle.
"It sounded like someone lit up a 12-gauge shotgun in the car," Francis said. "That sent the car into a skid and dad had to fight with all he had to steer the car away from other drivers and get the car down into the median."
The car started spinning, eventually flipping over on its top and smashing the roof completely in. When Francis woke up, he was still in the vehicle.
"I couldn't move my arms and legs and I couldn't scream because I lost control of my abdominal muscles," Francis said.
The smashed roof dislocated Francis' fourth and fifth vertebrae, paralyzing him. His uncle had fractured vertebrae, 10 broken ribs and a broken hip. His sister died of head injuries. His dad was conscious for the entire episode.
"He watched his brother screaming in agony, he saw his little girl die by the side of the highway, he saw my limp body being pulled from the car and air lifted away," Francis said. "Our lives forever changed."
That was three years ago, and since then, Francis, now a quadriplegic, has had to develop an entirely new way of living. He is dependent on the aid and assistance of his family and nurses who take shifts throughout the day. Things that most people would consider day-to-day tasks, such as brushing teeth or simply getting in and out of bed, have become hurdles for Francis.
After doing some research, Francis read about a company in the Dominican Republic that is using stem-cell research to treat spinal cord injuries with positive results. Although stem-cell research is still experimental in the United States, it has been used in other countries for years.
He was just beginning his second semester in the PSU automotive program when his whole life changed. One morning in 2006 when David, his dad, uncle and sister were driving to Joplin, their tire exploded, leaving his father fighting for control of the vehicle.
"It sounded like someone lit up a 12-gauge shotgun in the car," Francis said. "That sent the car into a skid and dad had to fight with all he had to steer the car away from other drivers and get the car down into the median."
The car started spinning, eventually flipping over on its top and smashing the roof completely in. When Francis woke up, he was still in the vehicle.
"I couldn't move my arms and legs and I couldn't scream because I lost control of my abdominal muscles," Francis said.
The smashed roof dislocated Francis' fourth and fifth vertebrae, paralyzing him. His uncle had fractured vertebrae, 10 broken ribs and a broken hip. His sister died of head injuries. His dad was conscious for the entire episode.
"He watched his brother screaming in agony, he saw his little girl die by the side of the highway, he saw my limp body being pulled from the car and air lifted away," Francis said. "Our lives forever changed."
That was three years ago, and since then, Francis, now a quadriplegic, has had to develop an entirely new way of living. He is dependent on the aid and assistance of his family and nurses who take shifts throughout the day. Things that most people would consider day-to-day tasks, such as brushing teeth or simply getting in and out of bed, have become hurdles for Francis.
After doing some research, Francis read about a company in the Dominican Republic that is using stem-cell research to treat spinal cord injuries with positive results. Although stem-cell research is still experimental in the United States, it has been used in other countries for years.
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Pittsburgh Moving Company
posted 8/14/09 @ 11:16 AM CST
Wow, it's truly encouraging that the treatment seems to be working. And it was very good of the doctor to do the procedure even though he wasn't getting paid as much money as he needed. (Continued…)
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