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Jack's back from stem cell treatment in Mexico... and the signs are good
A BOY who travelled to Mexico for a pioneering brain treatment is already starting to show signs of improvement, according to his family.
Jack Illand, who was left severely disabled after a road accident, arrived home in Beech Avenue, Sowerby Bridge, on Sunday after undergoing stem cell treatment.
The nine-year-old's family say he was due to undergo an operation in April to relieve tension in his hands.
But he may not need that now he has had the treatment because his hands have become more relaxed since he came home.
Doctors have told them they may have to wait up to six months to see if there are more signs of improvement in Jack's condition.
His mum, Linda Batterton, 25, said: "It's just a waiting game. The treatment affects everybody differently.
"We're going to see how this one goes and possibly think about going out there again for more treatment."
Jack's accident left him quadriplegic, brain-damaged, unable to speak and with impaired vision.
The stem cell treatment replaced his dysfunctional cells with healthy new ones.
The specialist therapy is not available in the UK and there are only a handful of clinics in the world that provide it.
Linda and Jack's aunt, Claire Illand, found the Mexico clinic on the internet. They stayed in San Diego so that Jack could have the treatment.
"It was a bit overwhelming while we were out there," said Linda. "Jack didn't like having the injections but that's to be expected. He's been great. He seems full of life."
Jack's procedure was made possible thanks to generous fund-raisers who collected 17,000 after hearing of Jack's plight in the Courier.
His former school, Lee Mount Primary, started a fund and people queued up with money-raising ideas.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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