Kellie van Meurs, pictured with her husband Mark, died while undergoing stem cell treatment in Russia. Photo: Facebook
Supporters of a Brisbane mother of two who died while undergoing a controversial stem cell treatment in Russia say it did not cause her death, nor have others been discouraged from seeking it.
Kellie van Meurs suffered from a rare neurological disorder called Stiff Person Syndrome, which causes progressive rigidity of the body and chronic pain.
She travelled to Moscow in late June to undergo an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) under the care of Dr Denis Fedorenko from the National Pirogov Medical Surgical Centre.
Kellie van Meurs, pictured with family and supporters, died while undergoing stem cell treatment in Russia. Photo: Facebook
The transplant more commonly used for multiple sclerosis patients involves rebooting a patients immune system with their own stem cells after high-dose chemotherapy.
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Ms van Meurs was Dr Fedorenkos first SPS patient, and her husband Mark said she died of a heart attack on July 19.
I do know that Rosemary [Kellie's aunt and carer in Moscow] felt she received the best possible care, especially from Dr Fedorenko, he said.
Given her level of constant pain and overlapping auto-neuronal problems I still don't think we had a better option.
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Qld mum dies in Russia