I have spent several hours starting different blog posts over the weekend and this morning, but have been unable to finish any of them. I am still raw after the phone call Richard and I had with the director of the Stem Cell transplantation program at Children’s Hospital in Boston and the director of the Stem Cell Research Program also at Children’s Hospital in Boston. See the previous post below, written by Richard on Friday. An hour after our phone conversation in which they both expressed their concern with the stem cell treatments we have taken Emma to in Central America we received an email from them saying: “We know that you are trying to do the best for your daughter, but given the issues we discussed, George and I think that you should not go back for stem cell treatment.”
I am feeling overwhelmed with emotions at the moment which is why I am having such a difficult time writing a post. This blog is about Emma, not my fragile emotional state and though I have certainly written of the difficulties in parenting an autistic child I have tried to always keep Emma front and center – she is the star of this blog. And yet, it is hard for me to write about anything at the moment because this blog is also about our hopes for Emma. At the moment my hope is in short supply.
Emma's Hope Book 
Hi Ariane,
I stumbled upon your blog while researching stem cells and I wanted to pass on some encouragement about the treatment for your daughter in Panama. I live in Panama and about a month ago discovered the stem cell lab here. I am taking treatments to build my immune system after cancer treatments.
Last week when I was waiting in their lobby at the clinic I met a lady from Las Vegas with an autistic teenage boy. We began talking and she shared with me how this was here third trip for treatment and she has seen a miraculous change in her son. She told me he could not focus his vision on anything and could not speak. Had violent tendencies as well. Now he can focus and speak clearly and is much calmer. I spoke to him myself and he was very coherent. The mother was nearly in tears as she shared this with me. I know that stem cell treatments don’t work 100% on autistic children, but it certainly has worked on many. I pray that Emma will see some benefits from the treatments and I encourage you to continue as there seems to be such great hope with this technology and so little downside.
I write a blog about investing in Panama and you can view it here: http://primapanama.blogs.com/_panama_residential_devel/