Jackie Stollfus is a very caring and happy person. But systemic lupus threatened her health, happiness, and even her life. Lupus is an autoimmune disease affecting more than 5 million people worldwide.
“Lupus is my body attacking my body,” explains Jackie. “If you have a cold, your body attacks the cold. My body attacks my kidneys. It doesn’t know the difference between a cold or my kidneys or my skin or my blood, it’s attacking it.” There is no known cure, only treatment of symptoms with medication. And none of the medications worked for Jackie.
When all seemed lost, Jackie’s doctor suggested she look into the work being done by Dr. Richard Burt at the Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago. Jackie’s treatment involved using her own adult stem cells, which as Jackie puts it gave her “a brand new immune system.” Five years later, she’s better than ever, enjoying the outdoors with her husband Brian while looking ahead to a long, happy life—and a family.
Adult stem cells have given Lupus survivor Jackie Stollfus a better life, better health, and a chance to be a mom.
