Journey to Walk Again

Web Editor: Lambrini Lukidis Web Editor: Matt Campbell Web Editor: Chris Fleszar

1 year ago

The goodbyes at Gerald R. Ford International are becoming routine for Jeni Rummelt. It is a little less anxious each time she boards the plane to Russia.

THE STEM CELL DEBATE:Adult versus Embryonic EXTENDED VIDEO: May, 2007 WZZM interview with Jeni Rummelt | Interview with Dr. William Passinault | Interview with Marcia Baum

?There's been many thoughts in my mind like, I'm crazy this is just a sales pitch, is it in my mind. Maybe I just want it so bad that maybe they're just telling me what I want to hear.?

Rummelt travels overseas for stem cell injections.

Doctors at the Nuerovita clinic in Moscow separate Rummelt's adult stem cells and inject them into her spinal cord. They hope the stem cells will attach to re-form neuro pathways severed in a car accident. Rummelt's two children have never seen her walk.

?It gives me excitement to be like maybe I can run and play catch with them, those are happy thoughts.?

The flights to Russia are exhausting, it takes her a total of 22 hours one way, but the therapy is already changing her life.

?All of a sudden I felt the pin prick and the pain of the needle and I was excited because I was like oh my gosh I feel this pain this is really cool.?

After just 3 injections Rummelt says she regained movement in her hips and could flex muscle. Now, 5 months since we first to her, Rummelt is experiencing something even more remarkable. ?Feeling when my husband puts his hand on my leg. I can feel the warmth of his hand. It's an amazing feeling, you know when your child touches your leg. Now I can feel the pressure of his hand or the warmth of his little hand touching my little leg, it's a pretty cool feeling.

Rummelt's husband Trent is hopeful when he sees changes in his wife's condition.

"When she goes to therapy in Rockford she gets excited because every time she's in therapy something else happens, some type of change, it's not huge but it's enough to make her excited."

In between injections, Rummelt goes through intense physical therapy. She can now move the lower half of her body to walk on her knees using support bars.

?Even though I can contract the muscle I need to strengthen it up to stand without support on my knee, it's still difficult next to impossible." "To anybody, don't give up. Why? With all the technology out there today why live the rest of your life wondering could I have done something.?

Rummelt says that's why she's willing to go as far as she has to, for as long as she has to. Without losing sight of her final destination.

Lambrini Lukidis

http://www.wzzm13.com/print.aspx?storyid=84317