On Father’s Day, 2005, Tori Schmanski sat in the backseat of a car talking and laughing with her two cousins and younger sister.
In a life-changing instant, the car flipped and rolled 2 1/2 times, landing upside-down in a canal in Delta, Utah. Tori pushed her sister and cousin out of the submerged car, but she was drawn underwater for 15 minutes until rescuers arrived.
Tori’s brain went without oxygen for an estimated 25 minutes, causing severe brain damage.
Tori survived, but the damage has taken its toll, preventing her from eating, speaking or moving on her own. Tori’s limited form of communication involves pointing and gesturing with her eyes, or changes in breathing. But life is not the same as it once was.
On Jan. 10, 2007, Tori and her parents traveled more than 6,000 miles from Orem to Hangzhou, China, to receive stem cell treatment.
Doctors in China planned to inject Tori with 50 million stem cells, designed to become new brain cells for Tori, over the span of 32 days. The treatment will conclude Sunday and the Schmanskis will return home the next day.
The Schmanskis researched online for brain damage treatments after exploring other options. They found the clinic in China through the Web, and talked to other families who have treated family members with the same procedure and saw positive results.
According to the National Institutes of Health, stem cells are regenerative cells that can develop into other types of cells. The two types of stem cells are embryonic and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells come from eggs fertilized in an artificial environment and donated for research purposes, a use that has ignited controversy across the country. Adult stem cells are found in mature tissues, such as bone marrow or umbilical cord blood.
Tim and Maria Schmanski were more comfortable having Tori treated with adult stem cells, rather than embryonic. Embryonic stem cells carry greater health risks, according to the National Institutes of Health Web site, such as the formation of tumors.
But the controversy surrounding stem cell use in the United States has stymied its use as a treatment. The Schmanskis traveled halfway across the world so that Tori would have the opportunity.
Last year, President Bush vetoed a bill that would have allowed taxpayer money to speed up those studies.
"I think that in this country we need to federally fund both embryonic and adult stem cell research," Tim Schmanski said in a phone interview from China. "We don't have enough data on embryonic stem cells to really know what they can do."
But even in China, stem cell treatment isn’t cheap. Love and support continue to pour out from Utah residents in the form of donations and fundraisers.
A Lindon-based company, For Every Body Candles, began fundraising in September 2005 to defray to the costs of Tori’s medical bills. The company reintroduced the candle in November to help Tori travel to China to receive stem cell treatment. Members of the community, including Tori’s classmates, have also contributed to the Tori Schmanski Fund to help fund their trip.
“We want to do everything we can to help Tori,” said Becky Andersen, CEO of For Every Body. “As a mother I can’t imagine what the family is going through. We want to help in any way we can.”
And the Schmanskis continue to stay hopeful. Tori’s progress as a result of the stem cell treatments is unknown. Tim Schmanski said that while some patients see results within the first shot, others see continued progress for six months to a year afterward.
For the Schmanskis, progress comes in small increments and hoped-for miracles.
“We would like to see a smile from Tori,” said Maria Schmanski, her mother. “I haven’t seen one since June 19, 2005 — I still remember it.”
| How to help |
| For an update on Tori's progress or to make a donation, please visit www.pray4tori.com |
Copyright Brigham Young University 7 Feb 2007
