The Patrick French Foundation
Tax ID # 22-3730861
　
The Patrick French Foundation founded in April of 2000 is celebrating 10 strong years of providing Patrick and other children with needs not met through conventional medical pathways and expenses not covered by insurance. Those of you that have followed the course of Patrick’s life know that this has not been an easy road.
At the age of 6 months Patrick a fat healthy 21 pound boy suffered a severe allergic reaction to the DTaP vaccine. Struggling for his life he was now cortically blind, unable to eat, and his body was akin to a rag doll. On his third birthday Patrick was lucky enough to participate in a study at Cornell University which proved life changing. The Hyperbaric oxygen treatments he received began to renew his vision, ease the conflicts in his tiny body and he started to regain some strength.
After placing him in Children’s Specialized Hospital School once again his life was traumatized. After only 19 days, 2 infections, and 2 rounds of antibiotics Patrick endured 6 months of agony. A stomach tube was inserted as he screamed in pain from bleeding ulcers caused by Xithromax. It was at this point that we left Beth Israel Hospital determined to end Patrick’s pain. Patrick was now 3 ½ years of age and still a frightening 21 pounds!
　　
The foundation was established and our first mission was more hyperbaric oxygen. Since then Patrick has received we’ll over 500 treatments at $200/hour, has been on a hypoallergenic diet costing several hundred dollars/month, received the best equipment including three bicycles costing in excess of $10,000, and thrives. His progress has been slow but steady as most of you have witnessed. Today Patrick is a healthy low functioning thirteen year old and ready to once again be brave and take the next step.
Patrick and I are seizing an opportunity we can not pass up and spending money we don't have yet because of the potential it can have on his future. Stem cell research as it is in this country has major side effects such as cancer due to the fact that they use other peoples cells and the chance of infection and rejection is serious. At the American Stem Cell and Anti-aging Center in Ecuador they are doing a procedure similar to a bone marrow transplant. They transfuse the child's own blood, remove the stem cells remaining in the child's body, replicate the child's own stem cells with human growth factor, and reintroduce the child's own stem cells in mass back into their body. Because of Patrick's Immunoglobulin A deficiency, the risk of an allergic reaction or rejection has always been in our way with stem cells. Reintroducing his own cells can cause no harm only good.
This procedure mimics the bone marrow transplant used for 28 years for leukemia, and the 6 year old procedure to alleviate pain for rheumatoid arthritis. Stem cells are the cells that replicate after fertilization. They are undifferentiated; they can become anything. They are not skin cells, heart cells, bone cells, etc. They can however become any of these cells. The potential for healing has proved to cure Sickle Cell Anemia, and many other diseases specifically an immune deficiency such as Patrick's IgA deficiency that is incurable otherwise. Stem cells are like heat seeking missiles within the body and search for damaged tissues and repair them. The uses are limitless and the potential for this therapy to help Patrick is endless.
Maybe he would walk unattended, maybe he could eat non-medical food, maybe he could say a few simple words or actually make eye contact. We have no idea but the results with other individuals have all been positive and I refuse to let this opportunity slip away, The therapy costs $18,000 and the travel expenses are around $2,000.00.

So on April 18th yes April 18th Patrick and I embark on our next quest for healing. Patrick deserves this chance and has needed that little nudge for so long. When he says "MOM' I cry because I know he wants to say so much more. He constantly moves his jaw talking with no words.
We have been so lucky to have so many wonderful supporters that have kept him going all these years and our dream is to get him one step further than we have so far; get him to communicate enough for him to always be happy. So on to Ecuador it is for me and Patrick!!!
When we return Patrick needs many new pieces of equipment including a new wheelchair, ankle braces and handicapped van. His continued growth is truly amazing. We would also again like to reach out to another child and help him or her through their struggles by providing a service .
The web site for our destination is http://www.ascaac.com/ for those that are interested in viewing. Thanks again for being a Patrick supporter.
　
Jacki & Tim French