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Stem Cells help Marine dog who won Purple Heart to walk again



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A scientific breakthrough in medicine is helping a decorated Marine learn to walk again after a serious injury in Iraq.

The Marine, a German Shepherd named Lex, and his partner Corporal Dustin Lee, were part of an elite team trained to sniff out bombs.

In March 2007, Lex and Corporal Lee were hit by a rocket-propelled grenade that took Lee’s life and left Lex with 50 pieces of schrapnel in his body, and unable to walk.

Baltimore-area veterinarian Doctor Lee Morgan is using canine stem cell therapy to help Lex walk again. “This is definitely the wave of the future for dogs with all kinds of joint problems,” says Benny Bix Ochman Labradoodle’s vet, Dr. Jill Elliot.

How stem cell therapy works
The breakthrough is stem cell therapy developed by Vet-Stem laboratories. Regenerative medicine uses a concentrated form of autologous adipose-derived adult stem cells to treat traumatic and degenerative diseases, including bowed tendons, ligament injuries, osteoarthritis, and osteochondral defects in horses and dogs.

“The idea is that these stem cells will regenerate some of the lost cartilage, some of the lost tissue, maybe even some of the lost nerve function,” Dr. Morgan told Baltimore station WBFF.

Stem cells are multi-potent and can differentiate into tendon, ligament, bone, cartilage, cardiac, nerve, muscle, blood vessels, fat, and liver tissue, according to Vet-Stem’s website. The stromal fraction that is harvested from adipose tissue is a heterogeneous mixture of regenerative cells.

Human trials are already underway for advanced heart disease, osteoarthritis, fractures, liver and renal disease.

How you can help Lex
Vet-Stem has donated a lifetime supply of stem cells for Lex, as he will likely need them with over 50 pieces of shrapnel still lodged in his body. Dr. Morgan also donates his services, and you can help Lex by making a donation to:
Georgetown Veterinary Hospital
2916 M Street. NW
Washington DC 20007


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diana tate

This was the most stirring story as I watched it on tv as well woulkd love to afford it for my best buddy brownie now. Vet had him on steroids and pain meds. He goes on nonsteroidal today. Siffered a broken bone when puppy before we got him and last year a errent hunter shot him. Pieces of metal remain. We love our brownie dog, a german sheperd of 4 years