Testimonials & Case Studies

In her early years carrying up until 9 she has had a strict stemming routine consisting of tip toe walking, mouthing of items, hand flapping, uncomfortable screaming, repetitive walking every 12 seconds. Episodes of eloping 20+ times a day. Curiosity of her bowels with no desire to potty train. Common household noises seemed to overwhelm her and she would shut down to us. Her “eye contact” was almost as if she was looking through you not at you. She spent two weeks saying “I love you” at four and it was never spoke again. Her language declined and ultimately we decide on an AAC device to help the communication.

We’ve spent many years trying to master a steady and simple routine to help Layla meet her needs and requirements but also be a kid. Ultimately, she was stuck on a pattern of taking one step forward and two steps backwards.

 

One afternoon after school, I’d like to say God gave us the pleasure of meeting Mike Zingg. He politely asked if we had heard of stem cell therapy, we chatted for a few minutes and he gave me his card. I remember going home and immediately researching Autism & Stem cell benefits. Realizing the more I read the more excited I was but also finding myself nervous for the unknown. The next day I spoke with Mike and his wife Robyn on the telephone. The connection and comfort that came with that hour conversation is something I still cherish to this day. Here we have this wonderful couple who is so supportive and understanding of our situation and offering to send Layla for Stem Cell therapy in a different country. The excitement was more then ever. I remember the night before I made the decision I sat and reflected on all those difficult days leading up to this point. All the nights I spent worrying, crying, and overwhelmed with guilt. Wondering how I, a 34 year old mother of three kids with no experience with autism other then what I learned along the way, was going to help guide this beautiful child to grow up independently and happy. I always told myself I would go to the end of the world to help my daughter and here I was being met with this opportunity to help her and we had to take it.

 

December 2021 we flew to Panama to the Stem Cell Institute with the Zingg Family. Traveling to another country with only your daughter and a group you’ve recently met was nerve wrecking. I remember Robyn took my hand as we stepping into the shuttle and said “ You’re going to have to lean on me now, I’m here for you and whatever you need just let me know. Everything is going to just fine.” And it was. Everything was more then fine. From the moment our plane landed the kindness and hospitality we received was as if we arrived at a relatives we had just met.

 

Our first appointment at the stem cell institute with Dr. Hernandez was so informative and professional but being met with this compassionate staff made me feel like we were there in a room with a team that I always wished we had. Laylas first infusion I was worried about her strength, will I be able to restrain her, did we fly here and she won’t be able to follow through it? The process was less then ten minutes. After the infusion she looked at the nurse and laughed at her.

 

Here my daughter who would cry if you tickled her arm when she didn’t want it, was going to stem cell therapy and leaving with a smile. On the way down the elevator we were greeted by a gentleman and when Layla didn’t respond he said no? I explain to him that she was nonverbal and I remember him looking at me with tears in his eyes saying You must have a really hard life. I said that I did but she made it worth it. For the next three days she attended every infusion after that with curiosity to the cool stuff the doctors had on his desk and what she can get into. While sitting and eating lunch at the hotel restaurant overlooking the ocean & pool (the first day after Layla‘s infusion) she’s gazing over at the water and it has her attention for about 15 minutes. I asked her do you see the water, do you want to go swimming after lunch? She looked at me and responded “get wet”. Layla had never used two word sentences and I didn’t know if at this point because I had got my hopes up so high if I was going crazy or if she really said it. After our trip I was really excited to get home and await the results. Every day Layla woke up excited to go to school. There were less tantrums, less eloping, more grabbing food & drinks that she would like instead of trying to mouth inappropriate items.

 

Here it has now been almost 7 months since Layla’s Stem Cell therapy she has mastered out of six different programs in her IEP, this is her first year completing state testing independently, she has built relationships with her classmates instead of just being so reserved and in her own little bubble, she is now using the toilet to go pee more frequently, learning and almost mastering feeding herself with the utensil, she no longer elopes (if attempted when you ask her to she will shut the door and follow simple commands). She has become more aware of her voice you will hear small words and now she is attempting to spell words out loud. I would say it seems as if she has found out that she has a voice. Her affection now is almost funny at times she’ll bombard you with kisses and hugs and hang on you like a koala bear. She’ll even try to bribe you with kisses.