Stem Cell Therapy Gives New Hope After a Spinal Cord Injury
An ancient Chinese saying holds that while a person’s life is short, learning has no end. For He Zhirong, a similar idea applies to something else entirely: for him, life goes on, and so does love, no matter how difficult the circumstances become.
A Road Accident That Changed Everything
He Zhirong was only 39 years old when a road accident left him bedridden for more than a year. The crash took place on March 15, 2013, and from that day forward he was unable to get up on his own.
The injuries were severe. He developed chest tightness, breathing difficulties, loss of bowel control, impaired movement in all four limbs, and total paralysis of both legs. Doctors at a local hospital diagnosed him with fractures at the C2, C5, and C6 vertebrae, resulting in a spinal cord injury and high-level paraplegia.
The diagnosis did more than affect his body — it also shattered his family. His wife and daughter ultimately left him, and the only person who stayed by his side throughout the ordeal was his aging mother.
Searching for Answers, Without Success
Following his diagnosis, He Zhirong tried several rounds of treatment at hospitals close to home. He first underwent an internal fixation procedure, but it could not repair the damage to his spinal cord, and he remained confined to bed. After three weeks in hospital, there had been no meaningful change in his condition.
He was then moved to a hospital in Jakarta for a second internal fixation operation, this time paired with acupuncture and moxibustion. This combination brought some benefit — his wound healed and his vital signs stabilized — yet the paralysis in his limbs remained unchanged. He was released after another three-week stay, still without the recovery he had hoped for.
Held Together by His Mother and Cousin
Being abandoned by his wife and daughter at his most vulnerable moment left He Zhirong deeply hurt. What kept him going was the devotion of his elderly mother and his cousin, who stayed close and continued the search for treatment options on his behalf.
Despite her age, his mother took on the responsibility of caring for him and organizing his daily needs. His cousin, who holds a managerial position at a well-known international insurance firm, made time in her demanding schedule to support his search for care. He Zhirong has said that it was their steady presence that gave him the strength to continue.
Because his mother could not physically lift or reposition him, and the family could not afford professional nursing help, he developed serious bedsores, a painful complication that he endured quietly.
A Turning Point: Stem Cell Treatment at Modern Hospital Guangzhou
Everything began to shift in April 2014. On April 28, 2014, He Zhirong — accompanied by his mother and cousin — arrived at the Stem Cell Research and Treatment Center of Modern Hospital Guangzhou. A friend had told him about a hospital in Guangzhou, China, dedicated to stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries.
After researching the treatment thoroughly and consulting with the hospital’s office in Jakarta, he decided to pursue it, driven by the hope of walking again and a renewed determination to live fully. The hospital’s medical team evaluated his condition and designed an individualized treatment plan for him.
He underwent two stem cell interventional procedures, performed on May 2 and May 9, 2014. His recovery afterward offered clear evidence that the treatment was working. Following the procedures, he experienced the following improvements:
- Complete healing of his bedsores
- Increased strength in the muscles of his upper limbs
- Improved control over bowel movements
- More frequent penile erections, accompanied by restored sensation
- Greater range of motion in his joints
More Than Medicine: A Measure of Compassion
What struck He Zhirong most was that the hospital offered him more than clinical treatment — it offered genuine care. Taking into account his financial circumstances and the perseverance he had shown, the hospital extended preferential terms to help with his costs. The attentiveness of the medical staff and interpreters also gave him reassurance during a difficult period.
After sixteen days of treatment, He Zhirong was discharged on May 16, 2014, with further follow-up treatment planned. Even though the accident and the loss of his wife and daughter could have ended his hope, he chose to keep moving forward — convinced that life continues, and that love, too, finds a way to remain, carried now by the people who chose to stay.
