Life in Action: Taking the stigma out of stem cells
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The term "stem cell research" comes across as a controversial heated topic, but one local nonprofit is trying to change the way we think of the term and spread awareness about benefits that can come from our own stem cells.
When Lizzie Horn was diagnosed with a laboral tear in her hip, she wanted to find the quickest heal. Horn worked on her feet every day, running even, and said she didn’t like the idea of surgery.
"After hearing the surgery was really my only option, it wasn't something I wanted to look into because not only would it affect me financially but physically and my overall well being," Horn said.
Horn’s friends turned her onto the idea of a procedure which used her stem cells.
"To know there are possibilities of your own body healing itself, it's more fascinating to people that there is another option that may work for them," Horn said.
Doctors retrieved stem cells from Lizzie's hip bone, then concentrated them and injected them back into her hip.
"I was in-and-out in an hour, back on my feet that day and back to work and working out the next day," she said.
After a few follow-up appointments, she learned that her laboral tear is gone.
Austin-based nonprofit MedRebels hopes to help more people like Lizzie.
"This is, in my opinion, the future of where we need to go in many different disease processes that affect our body,” Dr. Randy Dryer with the Central Texas Spine Institute said.
MedRebels hopes to hold events and fundraisers to help spread awareness about stem cell studies, so more people can use their own for healing.
Click the video above for more details.
Whether it's the local environment or world hunger, everyday people are working to make the world a better place. Every Wednesday YNN's Jennifer Borget shares the stories of Central Texans who have dedicated their lives to making a difference.