My father is a 72-year-old who suffers from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). It’s a lung disease with no cure with a bleak prognosis resulting in death 3 to 5 years of diagnosis.  In April, this year, dad had an exacerbation after an attempt to treat with stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy is not FDA-approved or monitored and there are some providers making a lot of cash off vulnerable desperate population. Dad was told he would have one – two sessions with follow up which resulted in many follow ups and up to 5- 8 hour wait times because the doctor was not in the office.  The consents were not filled out completely and were expired. Also there is no approved indication for stem cell tx for IPF. The risk of introducing infection via nebulizer tx and injection tx is very high since this is not an approved or properly monitored procedure.  Fat cell injected out via liposuction technique and send to lab to multiply cells and reintroduce these cells into the patients’ body via injection and nebulizer tx. In process of regenerating cells if it is not properly monitored there is high probability of regeneration of bacteria or fungi that may become reintroduced into your body. Dad had an exacerbation after his stem cell tx and went into the icu in very critical condition.  After 15 days of aggressive tx thanks to the doctors and IPF providers, dad’s life was spared.  His baseline now resulted in worsening symptoms. He suffers from severe weakness, fatigue, need of 24-hours oxygen care with physical therapy and home health care. 

When people face mortality there is vulnerability and desperation that puts them at high risk from predators who promise treatment or even a cure for pure greed. Please investigate the research or tx and remember if anyone promises you something too good to be true it probably is.