Innovative stem cell treatment may get Alcala back on his feet

One year after a diving accident injured his spine and left him wheelchair-bound, New Rockford resident Neto Alcala has a chance to walk again.

Alcala, diagnosed with incomplete quadriplegia after he fractured his C5 vertebra in the accident, learned this past month that he was a candidate for stem cell treatment to regenerate his spine, alleviate pain and potentially help him regain mobility.

He will travel to Rejuv Medical Center in Waite Park, Minn. on Sept. 1 for a five-day stem cell procedure.

Stem cells are unspecialized or "blank cells" with no specific function. When required, they respond to signals and morph into specialized cells in a process called differentiation.

In the human body stem cells that act as an internal repair system to repair and rebuild damaged tissues are called Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC). According to Mayo Clinic, "People who might benefit from stem cell therapies include those with spinal cord injuries, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, stroke, burns, cancer and osteoarthritis."

In Alcala's case, he was told he is a good candidate for the procedure because Rejuv Medical Center has had success in other people with the same injury to their C5 vertebra. He was referred to Rejuv by Dr. Glen Hyland of Core Health Strategies in Bismarck.

Alcala began this months-long process last week by taking a natural medication developed to stimulate his body to produce more stem cells. He will take the medication for the next three months, one month prior to the procedure and for two months afterward.

The procedure itself takes five days. He will return home after the procedure and ramp up physical therapy. Although some see the effects of the treatment immediately, it's more likely that he will see the most improvement between six weeks and 10 months after the procedure, doctors say.

"There's no guarantee," Alcala says, "but I'm excited to see if I can walk again."

Alcala has been in continuous therapy since he returned home, mostly at his home under the care of CHI Health at Home due to coronavirus restrictions. However, he has had the opportunity to go to Carrington once a week since restrictions were lifted in June. He said the move into outpatient therapy has been a good one, as the facility offers specialized equipment he didn't have access to at home. The most beneficial has been the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit, which uses mild electrical signals to help relieve pain. Alcala otherwise manages pain with medication, and often he has painful spasms in his back. The TENS unit, coupled with heat therapy, helps alleviate that pain.

His therapy has resulted in noticeable physical improvement as well. He has regained some movement in his fingers, can stretch his arms out further, sits up straighter and can pull himself up a bit.

A benefit fundraiser for Neto is set for Thursday, Aug. 27 from 5 - 7 pm. at the New Rockford Eagles Club. North American Bison, LLC will provide the meat, and all will enjoy an authentic Mexican supper prepared and served by Alcala's friends and co-workers. A benefit account has also been set up at Bank Forward.