Hockey legend Gordie Howe has undergone stem cell treatment after suffering a series of strokes this year, according to his family.
The
Detroit Free Press reports that the Howe family released a statement detailing the improvements the Detroit Red Wings legend has made over the past few weeks after having the treatment in Mexico.
Howe, 86, has dementia and suffered several strokes this year.
According to the family's statement, Howe was treated by doctors with Stemedica Cell Technologies, a biotechnology company that manufactures adult stem cells in U.S. government-licensed facility in San Diego. The doctors helped get Howe into a stem cell clinical trial at Novastem, a licensed distributor of Stemedica's products in Mexico.
“Novastem is currently conducting federally licensed … clinical trials for several medical conditions, including stroke, using Stemedica's stem cell products… After reviewing the information on Stemedica and Novastem, our family decided to give our father this opportunity.”
On December 8, Howe underwent a two-day, non-surgical treatment at Novastem's medical facility, in which neural stem cells were injected into his spinal canal. The family statement said Howe’s “quality of life has greatly improved, and his progress has exceeded our greatest expectations.”
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