"I Wish We Had Done It Earlier": A Mother and Son Share Their Stem Cell Therapy Journey
When Tammy Crane first heard about stem cell therapy through a Joe Rogan podcast discussing another patient's success story, she began a three-year journey that would eventually lead to remarkable improvements in her son Tristan's quality of life. Their story offers valuable insights for families considering stem cell therapy as an option for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
The Path to Treatment
As a retired military family who had moved from Arkansas to Maryland to Illinois and finally to Texas in search of the best healthcare for Tristan, the Cranes were no strangers to pursuing treatment options. However, their initial inquiry about stem cell therapy met with discouragement.
"Every person in that forum, minus one, told me, don't do it. It's stupid. It doesn't work. It's not a cure. You're not eligible for trial," Tammy recalls about seeking advice in DMD support groups. "Nobody wants to talk about it in our community because of clinical trials... because everything else is that fear. And it's fear for us too."
Visible Improvements
Despite initial skepticism from others, Tammy and Tristan moved forward with treatment, and the results were noticeable. Within two weeks, they observed significant changes:
Improved complexion
Reduction in chronic pain
Return of certain motor functions
Tristan, now 18, describes his experience: "Like I didn't feel like I was constantly stiff... That was the first time I did that in months. I felt like my body was more stable. I didn't feel like I was gonna lose my balance as much anymore."
The improvements continued to manifest:
Walking with a rollator
Increased stability
Better energy levels throughout the day
Enhanced pool mobility
Ability to perform previously impossible tasks, like scratching his head independently
Documenting Progress
Tammy was careful to document all changes, wanting to ensure she wasn't just seeing what she hoped to see. Their documentation showed remarkable progress:
Walking 7 steps one day
Progressing to 15 steps
Eventually achieving 33 steps from the dining room to the bathroom
Looking Forward
Six months after treatment, both mother and son are convinced of its benefits and are looking to pursue additional treatments. "It made me feel that there is good treatment other that could potentially either stop the progression of it, or maybe slightly regress it back," Tristan shares.
For Tammy, the goals are clear: "I don't want him to lose any more than what he's already lost... I want him to be able to scratch his head on his own. I want him to have that independence. I want him to know that he doesn't have to view his life of 'I've got to marry someone who's like you, because I need someone to take care of me.'"
A Message to Other Families
The Cranes' biggest regret isn't trying stem cell therapy—it's not trying it sooner. "If I could roll back, I'd done it early, if I knew, if I had been persistent enough, and not scared about it myself when I first learned about it years ago... I wish we had done it earlier, and then done it again."
Their experience highlights the importance of:
Exploring all available options
Not letting fear prevent action
Documentation of progress
Following post-treatment protocols
Considering treatment timing
Being open to alternative treatments alongside traditional options
Moving Forward
While stem cell therapy hasn't been a cure, it has provided meaningful improvements in Tristan's quality of life and helped maintain his independence. The Cranes continue to advocate for open discussion about treatment options and encourage other families to explore all possibilities available to them.
