Caernarfon tot Joshua back from China after surgery

Jun 11 2009

TODDLER Joshua Clark has returned home after receiving revolutionary treatment at a Chinese hospital.

The 22-month-old tot from Caernarfon flew out to Shanghai six weeks ago for pioneering stem cell therapy – which is banned in the UK – to treat a condition called optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) which has left him completely blind in both eyes, disrupts his sleep patterns and slows his learning skills.

And although he still cannot see parents Joanna and Anthony believe they can see signs of the miracle they have been praying for.

Last night, as the family recovered from the 24-hour long journey Joanna told how his eyes are responding to light for the first time in his life.

And she described her wonder at seeing her son take his first unaided steps.

The 25-year-old police officer said: "The doctors came to visit us on their rounds, and the doctor examined Josh.

"He believed he had slight light perception in both eyes. I saw his eyes move towards the pen light in a sort of twitching movement. We were so happy.

"We won’t see the full results for another 12 months as the stem cells will continue to grow but we are very hopeful. The last six weeks have certainly not been a waste of time."

During his time in China the brave little boy also had extensive physiotherapy sessions to help his mobility.

"During the last few days at the hospital he actually walked two steps unaided which is absolutely brilliant. His confidence has grown so much that if we’re holding him upright, he will push our hands away so that we’re not holding him," said Joanna.

Doctors at the Zhejiang Xiaoshan Hospital in Hangzhou, used umbilical stem cells, injecting them in eight sessions over a 40-day period, in an attempt to partially restore the damaged optic nerve.

Joshua’s grandad Dr Kevin Doughty, 54, added: "We’ve seen something we had never seen before and that is his pupils dilating and Jo is convinced his pupils are working together for the first time.

"I am certainly confident that we are going to see some changes but I’m not one of those people who thinks he’s going to come back and see everything. Even if he starts reacting to his environment in any way, it will be worth it for the quality of his life."

The family’s trip to eastern China and treatment which cost £40,000 was only made possible through the generosity of his local community in and around his home town of Caernarfon. Joanna thanked everyone who donated to the Joshua Appeal.

"In November 2008, we began our appeal for Josh to go to China for stem cell treatment and hyperbaric oxygen chamber which would cost a whopping £40,000," she said.