Groundbreaking Stem Cell Transplant Surgery Done at Emory

From Fox5 Atlanta:

ATLANTA, Ga. - A groundbreaking surgery took place Wednesday, Oct. 20 at Emory University Hospital as a 58-year-old Hoschton man, who was diagnosed with the neuro-degenerative disease ALS, had a stem cell transplant.

John Conley is only the seventh ALS patient in the country, and the first who is still able to walk. To undergo the high-risk experimental surgery, Conley says he was a bit nervous, but he was ready for the very delicate operation.

Neurosurgeons at Emory actually opened up Conley’s spinal cord, and then they delivered five injections—each containing 50,000 fetal stem cells along the bottom of his spinal cord.

The procedure has never been done before, so no one knows if it’s safe. But, Conley and his wife, Sandy, say he volunteered for the trial knowing there are no guarantees.

Conley’s surgery wrapped up on Wednesday afternoon.

FOX 5’s Beth Galvin was in the operating room during the groundbreaking surgery. She’ll have an update on Conley’s progress on the FOX 5 News at 5 on Monday, October 25.

NFT Patients Who Received Transplants in June

Everyone at NFT is so excited for our patients who received lifesaving transplants last month!

• John Bafford (heart) at Medical University of South Carolina


• Mandi Batson (double-lung) at Duke University Medical Center


• Ronald Davis (kidney) at Loma Linda University Medical Center


• Vicki Hancock (bone marrow) at Emory Transplant Center


• Trevis Hockaday (heart) at University of North Carolina Hospital


• Amanda Keys (heart) at Children's Hospital of Michigan

Groundbreaking Efforts in Hand Transplantation

Several NFT staff and board members recently had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Linda Cendales, who is leading groundbreaking efforts in the area of hand transplantation. She has quite an impressive resumé and is overseeing the program at Emory Transplant Center in Atlanta. Dr. Cendales is the only surgeon in the United States with formal training in all three areas of hand, microsurgery and transplant surgery. She established a comprehensive program at Emory to study Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA), which is the transplantation of multiple tissues (skin, muscle, bone, cartilage, nerve, tendon and vessels) as a functional unit.

Hand transplants are currently under investigation and are often categorized as cosmetic surgery by insurance companies, so many patients do not have coverage for the expenses. Dr. Cendales sees the critical need for patients to regain mobility and motor skills, and she is dedicated to helping these patients.

NFT is committed to helping ALL transplant candidates and recipients raise funds to help with their expenses. As advances in the medical field continue to develop, we expect to see more patients in need of our services.

NFT in Atlanta

NFT board and staff members had a wonderful time in Atlanta where they visited Emory Transplant Center and hosted a reception for transplant professionals, NFT patients and supporters.

NFT board and staff members with Dr. Linda Cendales, who oversees Emory's new hand transplant program, and her team.

Jackie Hancock, NFT president, addressing the group.

NFT patient Wilena Thompson (kidney recipient), Connie Gonitzke, NFT vice president, and Tinita Thompson, who was the volunteer chairman for Wilena's fundraising campaign.

NFT patient, Rachel Moore (heart recipient), and her mother, DeLoris.

To see all the pictures from NFT's visit to Atlanta, visit NFT on Facebook!