Gateshead's Harley Muir dreams of trying a stem cell t ransplant that he hopes will improve and extend his life. Login or signup to continue reading Harley was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at age 11. "When I was about 15, I had to go into a wheelchair ," Harley said.
"I was pretty much told I'd be lucky to live through my 20s." Now 37, his hopes of further extending his life were raised after listening to a podcast about the Stem Cell Institute in Panama. "Mel Gibson was a guest, saying his dad went through some successful treatment," Harley said.
"In the middle of the podcast, they said they'd had promising results for muscular dystrophy." His support worker and a friend suggested he try a GoFundMe to raise the $180,000 needed for the treatment. "I don't like asking for help, but I figure it's the only way it's going to happen so I might as well embrace it.
" The fundraiser, titled Help Harley Heal , said "living with muscular dystrophy has made daily life increasingly difficult". Harley, a single dad, faced "significant limitations in mobility and independence". He hoped the treatment could give him the strength to be more active and engaged with his four children.
While he can move his arms, he can't lift them. "I use one hand as leverage to lift the other one up," he said. Research showed stem cell treatment could improve arm function in patients with muscular dystrophy, along with standing, balance and respiratory function.
It could also repair and regenerate muscle .