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When Jarold Sedlacek's blood counts continued to drop, despite constant monitoring and regular treatments, his hematologist knew it was time to take a different approach.
His marrow had become dysfunctional, failing to produce vital red cells, which led to anemia. He no longer produced white cells to ward off infection and was at elevated risk for developing cancer.
After nine months of typical treatments, Sed-lacek's body no longer responded to drugs. His condition failed to im-prove.
Diagnosed a year ago with myelodisplasia, a blood disease that can often be a precursor to leukemia, Sedlacek, 59, had previously watched as his father battled, and ultimately lost his life, to the same disease.
The father of two was determined not to let it take his own.
"I heard about stem cells from a high school friend in California. His wife had had a transplant," the Elverson resident said. "Once I brought it up with my doctors, he said maybe it was a good idea."
Alan Keogh, a hematologist and oncology specialist at Brandywine Hos-pital, had heard about new innovations in stem cell treatments and recently published data during a national medical conference in 2004.
After a series of tried and failed attempts at curing his patient's disease using more traditional methods, Keogh was convinced an adult stem cell transplants might be Sed-lacek's last option.
The stem cells, which are found in the marrow and blood, as well as other parts of the body, can be separated and used to generate healthy platelets and red and white blood cells.
Despite heated political debate over the use of embryonic stem cells, which are found in fertilized eggs and are not yet specialized, Sedlacek's treatment used adult stem cells, good for only a specific use. Harvested from an adult donor - his brother.
Like an organ transplant or a typical transfusion, doctors had to establish a match between the donor and recipient prior to stem cell transplant. Although medical professionals have been using adult stem cells since 1988, the transplant is not without risk and an option some doctors do not offer patients.
"There's a treatment related mortality rate just due to the procedure," Keogh said. "This disease is relatively an older person's disease (which can make transplants more dangerous)."
Sedlacek, who was a strong 58-year-old at the time of his transplant, was given a chemical treatment to kill off his own cells as preparation for the procedure, which occurred over the course of three days in six-hour sessions.
"It's not a painful procedure. I've had three bone biopsies and that can be quite painful," he said. "But the worst part about it was being away from my family."
Following the transplant, Sedlacek was placed in a sterilized unit at Jeff-erson Hospital in Phila-delphia- where the procedure took place and where he spent the following four weeks- to prevent infection and monitor blood counts. He was not even allowed to kiss his wife.
It has been several months now and Sedla-cek's condition continues to improve.
There is promise in his future, now, he said, as stem cells begin to reproduce the platelets and red and white cells vital to his survival.
He takes 13 pills a day to ward off infection and to prevent his body from rejecting his brother's do-nation. But for Sedla-cek, it was worth the price- the cost of drugs, the loss of time, the stack of bills he now has to pay.
"The stem cell transplant saved my life," he said.
It is important to re-member, Keogh said, that adult and embryonic stem cells are different animals. Adult stem cells have yet to prove their ability to morph into every type of cell. But for patients like Sedlacek, whose disease could have progressed into cancer if left untreated, they are proof that adult stem cells, maintain their role in the realm of modern medical treatments.
Their use is limited, however, said Itzhak Fis-cher, a researcher at Drexel University who has spent five years examining stem cells.
"We're ... starting with cells that are committed to (a function)," he said. "This type of research has to continue, but in parallel with the embryonic re-search and testing."
Keogh has seen confusion In the eyes of many of his patients. Like Sedla-cek, some have not yet heard of adult stem cell transplants, still only fa-miliar with embryonic debate. Some are unaware that a distinction exists- that embryonic stem cells have not been used in humans, or that adult stem cells have been used since the 1980's.
"The confusion is probably occurring from the political debate with out (current president)." Ke-ogh said. "But that was probably the best go he could have had at (living)."
For Sedlacek, what has stirred debate and caused confusion, has given him a second chance at life.
