David Kannenberg

My Story:

David Kannenberg’s problems began in 2001 when he was watching fireworks on Fourth of July. He was sitting with his legs crossed and then when he uncrossed them, he felt numbness in his thigh that didn’t go away. The numbness progressed over the next couple of weeks into the knee. David completely lost feeling in both of his legs. In August of 2001, David contacted his doctor, but he wasn't able to get a conclusive diagnosis. It was only when he returned to his ophthalmologist for a routine check up and mentioned his current problem that he was reminded me of an eye problem he had reported on in March of the same year. His vision was blurry, as though he was looking underwater and I couldn't focus properly. The doctor put the two occurrences together and sent David to a neurologist to check for multiple sclerosis. The neurologist did a spinal test that confirmed the MS. At this point, his legs felt so tight, it was unbearable.
Initially David was put on steroids, later on betasteron. He stayed on this medication for seven years. Thankfully, the condition seemed non-progressive.
In early 2008, David started to lose his balance once in a while. He drives a truck and it became difficult at times to climb up into the cab. Over the years, his wife had been doing research about new medical treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) and thought of trying adult stem cells to improve his condition.
David reported that his trip to Cologne in September of 2008 was excellent. They were made to feel very welcome by the XCell-Center staff. Although he expected the extraction of the bone marrow to be painful, it was okay. David Kannenberg’s stem cells were separated from his bone marrow and were then re-injected two days later directly into his spinal fluid via lumbar puncture. After the lumbar puncture, he experienced a minor. The following day, David felt well enough to visit the Cologne cathedral and other places.
Two and a half weeks after the transplant, he noticed a slight shooting pain in his foot that later went away. Over the next few weeks, the sensation and mobility started to return little by little, after not having feeling in his feet and legs for seven years. At eight weeks after treatment, he can feel his muscles move and can sense slight pain from time to time. It seems to David that the pain indicates an improvement. He has regained full mobility in his legs below the knee. David’s legs feel much lighter and the feeling of tightness is now minor. He has a range of movement in my ankles once again. He can feel the grass beneath his feet.
David now wakes in the morning feeling great. He is much more talkative and has much more energy. He had never been classified as a progressive case and had no brain lesions. He is thankful that he caught the MS when he did. Having made so much progress, he tends