Medical Breakthroughs: Little Rock Man Fighting 2 Battles
By: Deedra Wilson, KARK 4 News
Updated: November 1, 2012
A Little Rock man suffering from Crohn's Disease since childhood, may now get help through a groundbreaking stem cell procedure.
And what was once something he'd have to leave the country to have done, will now be available here in the United States.
Gabriel Sullivan takes advantage of the chilly morning in little rock with a walk down the street.
"Most of the time it's hard to get out of the bed.
For having to deal with sometimes a fever, weight loss, diarrhea and fatigue.
"It's hard to have any energy because i don't absorb anything, because i don't have any intestines."
Gabriel was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease when he was 8-years-old.
"I've had most of my intestines removed, I have a colostomy bag, I have rheumatoid arthritis."
Gabriel is not alone, studies show that close to a million men and women have inflammatory bowel disease - about half of that number are diagnosed with Crohn's.
According to the Mayo Clinic there is no known cure.
But Gabriel's doctor in Little Rock suggested he try a stem cell procedure performed in Israel, that's had a high success rate of making life a lot easier for people.
He said he had a friend that went to Israel had the stem cell and he has no problems now."
But Gabriel was having a hard time coming up with the money to travel that far.
"I've found a place in Chicago, a doctor that does it and hopefully I will be able to get there."
Once in the windy city Gabriel would be treated with his own stem cells taken from bone marrow.
"I'm on a waiting list."
Waiting for the call for a better chance at living life.
For more information on Gabriel's efforts to get to Chicago - just go to his Facebook Page, Gabriel Justin Sullivian.
And what was once something he'd have to leave the country to have done, will now be available here in the United States.
Gabriel Sullivan takes advantage of the chilly morning in little rock with a walk down the street.
"Most of the time it's hard to get out of the bed.
For having to deal with sometimes a fever, weight loss, diarrhea and fatigue.
"It's hard to have any energy because i don't absorb anything, because i don't have any intestines."
Gabriel was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease when he was 8-years-old.
"I've had most of my intestines removed, I have a colostomy bag, I have rheumatoid arthritis."
Gabriel is not alone, studies show that close to a million men and women have inflammatory bowel disease - about half of that number are diagnosed with Crohn's.
According to the Mayo Clinic there is no known cure.
But Gabriel's doctor in Little Rock suggested he try a stem cell procedure performed in Israel, that's had a high success rate of making life a lot easier for people.
He said he had a friend that went to Israel had the stem cell and he has no problems now."
But Gabriel was having a hard time coming up with the money to travel that far.
"I've found a place in Chicago, a doctor that does it and hopefully I will be able to get there."
Once in the windy city Gabriel would be treated with his own stem cells taken from bone marrow.
"I'm on a waiting list."
Waiting for the call for a better chance at living life.
For more information on Gabriel's efforts to get to Chicago - just go to his Facebook Page, Gabriel Justin Sullivian.
