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Gruia's greatest hope

One month after birth, on April 23, 2007, Gruia was diagnosed with ROP – retinopathy of prematurity. The disease, which leads to retinal detachment in prematurely born babies, can't be treated unless detected at the earliest stages. In Gruia's case, the eye control had come too late. The disease had already reached stage 3-4 when we went with him to the ophthalmologist. The retinal laser surgery done in Bucharest did not yield results, and the efforts of the doctors from the German eye clinic where we went a few days later were in vain. The retina was already detached, leaving Gruia blind in both eyes.

To this date there is no proven treatment available for ROP. However, intensive research has been done with umbilical stem cells. Stem cells are the building blocks of all body tissues, from skin and blood to the brain and heart. It has been proven that these cells have the ability to assist in nerve and organ regeneration, as well as to enable tissue repair and restoration.

Because in Europe and America every new treatment has to be tested and verified over long periods of time, stem cell research has only begun to be investigated. Gruia doesn't have much time at his disposal. Until the age of 4-5 his brain will develop very differently from a normal child, because the area in the brain responsible for visual perception and interpretation plays a tremendous role in the overall development of the brain. Therefore, if by the age of 4-5 Gruia's brain doesn't learn to see, he may simply lose the ability to understand the visual signals sent by the eyes through the optic nerve. Gruia's only chance is now.

A few months ago a little boy from South Africa, suffering from ROP as Gruia, was treated with umbilical stem cells in China, and the results were remarkable. Not only that for the first time since birth the child can distinguish objects, but his ophthalmologist has observed signs of revascularization of the retina. This means that the retina is growing anew. Meanwhile, another girl from the USA, Tatyana, is doing the same treatment in China with good chances of success.

The doctors in China have recommended that Gruia have at least five stem cell treatments. The whole procedure will take 25 days, with one treatment being given every 4-5 days. In addition, each treatment will include neural growth factors. Gruia will also receive a custom-tailored rehabilitation program.

The company responsible for making this treatment possible is called Beike Biotech. Their research program has already helped many children with other diseases, like ONH, autism, ataxia or brain injuries.

The stem cell treatment is Gruia's greatest and, so far, only hope. The doctors have admitted Gruia for treatment, and think they can help give him a chance at a "normal" life. At present, Gruia is first degree blind; he can perceive light, but without being able to distinguish objects or shapes. We would be extremely happy if Gruia could grow together with his twin brother Vlad, enjoying life as much as possible, by giving him the priceless gift of sight.