Generous supporters gathered together for an evening of dining, dancing, and an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of funding research for regenerative and cellular therapies. The foundation’s mission is to provide these therapies to patients who otherwise would not have access to them.
Guests from around the world were present including Brian Mehling, M.D., Chairman of the Board; John P. Ferguson, CEO; Doreen Santora, COO; Eddie Amarante, President and Co-Founder; Roy White, former New York Yankee and World Series Champion; and the Hon. Jana Trnovcova, Consul General of Slovak Republic in New York among others.
Special guests included the leadership team from Malacky Hospital in Slovakia who traveled to New York to announce the recent successful growth of Blue Horizon International’s stem cell program in Slovakia. The BHI a.s. Slovakia team included Peter Kalencik, CEO of Malacky Hospital; Dr. Robert Vetrak, medical director; and Renata Mihalyova, general manager of Blue Horizon International a.s.
Mr. Kalencik presented the results of BHI a.s. Slovakia and stated more than 100 patients have been successfully treated with stem cells in Slovakia. The facility is now fully licensed by the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic for cord blood, bone marrow, and adipose derived stem cells applications.
“We want to thank everyone who partnered with us on our journey to help people across the globe. For without you, our organization would not be able to provide the resources, raise the awareness, or provide the treatments that have touched and changed so many lives,” said Dr. Mehling. “There is a bright future ahead of us and together, we will continue to enhance the lives of so many people,” he added.
Two such people whose lives were touched are brothers, Martin and Damian Trisc, from Sabinov, Slovakia. The brothers, 27 and 22, share the same genetic disorder. Wilson's disease is a rare, inherited disorder that causes too much copper to accumulate in the liver, brain, and other vital organs. Symptoms typically begin between the ages of 12 and 23. Copper plays a key role in the development of healthy nerves, bones, collagen, and the skin pigment melanin. Normally, copper is absorbed from your food, and any excess is excreted through bile — a substance produced in your liver. But in people with Wilson's disease, copper isn't eliminated properly and instead accumulates, possibly to a life-threatening level. When diagnosed early, Wilson's disease is treatable, and many people with the disorder live normal lives. Unfortunately, since their diagnoses in late 2013 and early 2014, that is not the case with the Trisc brothers. Both continued to experience declining health and required around the clock care.
After learning more about the therapy, the Trisc family, with support from the Blue Horizon Charitable Foundation, traveled to China and received treatment at Blue Horizon Stem Cells' facility in Wuhan in February 2015. Upon their return to Slovakia, both of them, as well as their family members and friends, noticed dramatic improvement in their conditions.
Another patient and guest at the gala is Yesenia Torres. Ms. Torres was in a car accident that caused a suitcase to hit her in the neck, dislocating a vertebrae, and paralyzing her from the chest down. That was 18 years ago. Today, with support from the Blue Horizon Charitable Foundation and Yesenia’s determination to seek and find innovative stem cell therapies, she has experienced new found energy and mobility she hasn’t felt in years.
“This past year, we forged new collaborations and formed new relationships with leading research institutions, scientists, hospitals, and physicians. We have sought investors to expand and support our research efforts. We continue to work toward expediting stem cell therapies from pipeline to market through clinical trials,” said Eddie Amarante, co-founder and president of the BHCF. “Most importantly, we continue to provide access to research and therapies for patients seeking treatment options.”
The Blue Horizon Charitable Foundation is a recognized 501 (c) (3) organization, dedicated to increasing the awareness of global inequalities in healthcare, as well as providing charitable medical care and education to adults and children in impoverished areas. For more information please visit www.bluehorizonfoundation.org.
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