Harborcreek man to seek MS treatment in Panama

Bill Anderson felt like he was in the best shape of his life when doctors diagnosed him with multiple sclerosis in 2001.

The Harborcreek Township real estate agent's regular workouts were interrupted by a sudden numbness in his abdomen that radiated down to his feet.

"I went to the emergency room and was later admitted to the hospital," said Anderson, now 49. "They did some tests and diagnosed me with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. I was stunned."

Anderson has fought MS for 13 years, giving as little ground as he can to the relentless disease. He still works full time but now walks with a cane or a walker when the terrain is uneven.

His symptoms have worsened in recent years and traditional medications aren't helping him much. So Anderson is ready to take a drastic step: Spend $25,000 to travel to Panama for stem cell treatments.

"I'm not going to lie down and let this disease take me down, when there may be something out there to help me," Anderson said.

He is preparing to visit the Stem Cell Institute in Panama City in July and undergo intravenous injections of stem cells as a treatment for MS. The stem cells are taken from the umbilical cords of healthy, living babies whose mothers have donated the cords, according to the institute's website.

It's a treatment not currently approved in the United States and not covered by health insurance.

"I found out about it through research on the Internet," Anderson said. "I was trying to find a cure or something different."

According to its website, the Stem Cell Institute uses mesenchymal stem cells to stop an MS patient's immune system from attacking the myelin sheath, an insulator for neurons that enables them to communicate.

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Harborcreek man to seek MS treatment in Panama