Condemned Cow Stem Cell Doctor Defended by Patient's Mother

SHAMED: Dr Trossel leaving hearing

THE DEVOTED mother of a severely disabled Manchester Multiple Sclerosis sufferer came out in support of a disgraced stem cell doctor this week.

Chris Holbrook, 45, was treated by Dr Robert Trossel in 2005 for the degenerative disease before the Dutch-trained doctor was struck off by the General Medical Council last month.

Dr Trossel of Stoke Poges, Berkshire, allegedly injected some of his desperately ill MS patients with cow stem cells that carried risks of mad cow disease in unlicensed treatments.

Mother, Ann Holbrook, has looked after her now wheelchair-bound son since MS took over his life when he was diagnosed, aged just 21.

She said: “I really do feel Dr Trossel was trying to help people, he was genuinely doing the best for his patients.

“He believed in the work he was doing and would not intentionally harm anyone. Chris believes, and so do I, that the treatment halted the progression of his MS.”

After 18 years confined to a wheelchair, Mr Holbrook can no longer speak, move or eat unaided, making his journey to Dr Trossel’s Preventief Medisch Centrum in Rotterdam an ordeal in itself.

His mother said that he endured around 10 stretcher lifts, four journeys in private ambulances and a return trip on a private plane all in the space of a day to receive the ground-breaking treatment.

She added that despite the £18,000 round trip, her son, who can only communicate through the movement of his eyes and blinking, felt a tangible difference in his MS.

The difference was so evident to her son that the strong-willed Mr Holbrook has communicated that he would gladly undergo the journey again.

The treatment featured injections of what were promised to be stem cells harvested from umbilical cords and although she received no proof as to their validity Ms Holbrook is now seeking evidence from the GMC that Dr Trossel actually used bovine cells.

“For four years after the treatment he never had a chest problem. The stem cells apparently go to weakest part of the body, which is Chris’ lungs,” she said. “He was different when he came back, he was stronger.

“I think Dr Trossel believed the cells were okay, if I thought he was using bovine cells I wouldn’t have let Chris have the treatment.”

The pair travelled to Holland with fellow MS sufferer Trevor Crabtree, from Barrowford, Lancashire, who issued a written statement in defence of Dr Trossel that was used with other testimonials at the GMC hearing last month.

“He never said that it would cure me, he had honourable intentions,” said Mr Crabtree. “I was treated in a professional manner and the treatment, while not curing me, helped me and I have no regrets in that decision.”

Stem cells are hoped to help repair nerves damaged by the disease but at present such treatments in the UK are illegal, forcing patients to look abroad at expensive alternative clinics.

It is believed that MS affects around 80,000 people in the UK.

Dr Trossel has been in the news since he was the subject of a 2006 BBC2 Newsnight investigation in which journalist Susan Watts, found that the 56-year-old had injected patients with stem cells that were only for laboratory use.

The doctor, who also had an office in London, performed the treatments on the back of a licensing agreement with a firm which later became Advanced Cell Therapeutics (ACT).

Advanced Cell Therapeutics’s South African owners are still undergoing extradition proceedings after being investigated by both the FBI and US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for stem cell fraud.

After the GMC’s verdict, Dr Trossel said that during his career as a doctor, he always practised with the objective of achieving the very best for his patients.

Ms Holbrook added: “When you are as disabled as Chris, 10 years is a long time to wait for treatment. We can’t sit around for a decade; he just wants to live again.

“He loves life and I would never let anybody do anything that would hurt him.”

Also published on www.mancunianmatters.co.uk

http://mancunianmatters.co.uk/content/condemned-cow-stem-cell-doctor-defended-patients-mother

Eccles Mother Hit Hard by £9k Gallery Bills

UNDER PRESSURE: Bills threaten future

A DESPERATE Eccles mum is appealing for sponsors after she was personally issued with a £9,000 bill for the not-for-profit community gallery that she founded.

Karen Illingworth, 50, was issued the bill by Salford City Council for Eccles Community Art Gallery earlier this year and is under pressure to pay the full amount by December, £2,000 of which was due last week.

After an appeal to waive the back-dated business rates bill was rejected, the gallery is now under serious threat of closure, despite being a community initiative that is free to the public.

She said: “All this is very sad and it would be a sad thing if no-one could sponsor us. I can’t pay the bill as a part time worker, debt collectors will be sent round if nobody comes forward to help.

“Huge amounts of my spare time and money have gone into this. All this is immensely worrying as the bill is not far short of my £12,000 salary.”

The mother-of-two, who works as a research technician at Salford Hope Hospital, added that she spends at least 15 hours a week organising the gallery in her spare time, while supporting two children through higher education.

Since the gallery opened around 18 months ago, they have had around 3,600 visitors, equating to about 60 browsers for every day that the premises is open.

Treasurer of the gallery, Ron Mackie, 60, gives up his Saturdays to volunteer. He said: “I was absolutely shocked when I heard of it.

“When you break down the bill, it equates to the gallery having to pay £250 for every day we’ve been open, which is extortionate.”

The gallery, which is in Eccles Shopping Centre, Boothway, only costs £1,500 a year to run, with the premises opening to coincide with the centre’s farmer’s market every Saturday from 10a.m. until 4p.m.

The gallery opened after Ms Illingworth impressed locals with a stall on their 2008 continental market and it has since been a hub of community art events and she is keen to expand to help even more community groups into art.

Support for the gallery has come from high places including Eccles Councillor, John Cullen, and Salford MP, Hazel Blears.

“Please do rest assured that Hazel is fully supportive of Karen,” said a spokesman for Hazel Blears MP. “The gallery is a fantastic addition to the local community.”

The popular gallery has invited local groups like Friends of Eccles Station, Friends of Patricroft Station, local schools and the Links Resources Centre to exhibit their work since its opening.

Amateur artist, Joan Bethell, from Eccles, was taking part in her first public exhibition. She said: “We haven’t got anything else like this in Eccles.

“It should be given help, especially with all the empty shops in the town.”

Last weekend, the gallery’s Painting the Town competition, invited entrants had to create work that represented Eccles to them and was judged by acclaimed Manchester artist, Geoffrey Key.

Moira Glover, from Walkden, was a first-time visitor to the gallery, she said: “More people need to know about this place and it really should stay open. I really hope some sponsors come forward.”

For more information or to donate to the gallery please contact Karen Illingworth on 07981791475 or email ecclescommunityartgallery@yahoo.co.uk.

Also published on www.mancunianmatters.co.uk

http://mancunianmatters.co.uk/content/eccles-mother-hit-hard-%C2%A39k-gallery-bills

La Roux Surprise a Wet Piccadilly with Secret Gig

WEATHERPROOF: La Roux entertain soaked crowd

CHART-TOPPING band La Roux surprised Manchester by playing a secret gig in Piccadilly Gardens on Friday evening.

The Mercury Prize nominated band wowed the crowd, playing hit singles like ‘In For The Kill’ and ‘Bulletproof’.

Over 2,500 people braved the weather to attend the free gig which took place from a box-shaped billboard that was transformed into a stage for the show.

The billboard, advertising the launch of the new Nissan Juke, was placed in the gardens on Monday and mysteriously read ‘be here at 8pm Friday’.

The event was hosted by Nissan and their spokesman heralded the night as a great success and a fantastic way to launch their new car.

He said: “It was great to see so many people turn up to help celebrate the launch of the Nissan Juke. Their energy really added to the occasion.”

Throughout the week radio station Key 103 encouraged listeners to guess ‘what’s in the box’, by gradually revealing cryptic clues with one lucky entrant winning a £1,000 prize.

Clues included ‘it’s very stylish and also a little bit French’ and ‘there is no chance of stage fright on the night for this red haired wonder’.

Lead singer, Elly Jackson, had a great relationship with the crowd throughout the gig and even sheepishly told fans about her latest mishap.

The red haired diva recently injured her ankle and was told by doctors not to dance during the show although that didn’t stop her dropping a few moves.

Jackson has certainly been in the wars this year, with La Roux having to cancel part of their American tour after she struggled with bronchitis and a throat infection.

The Nissan spokesman praised the energetic electro-pop princess. He said: “Elly was great, despite damaging her ligaments before the gig, she had a wonderful rapport with the audience.

“Judging by the smiles on everyone’s faces, everybody seemed to enjoy the show.”

Prior to the show DJ Rebekah warmed-up the growing crowd playing an electro-dance set from some huge speakers in the boot of a Nissan Juke on stage.

La Roux fanatic, Dean McDonagh, was overjoyed to find the group playing. He said: “I’ve had an amazing night.

“It’s really made my day just walking through town and stumbling across La Roux playing, especially as the gig was free too.”

To celebrate the launch of the Juke, Nissan are planning a roadshow that will be travelling to London, Leeds and Liverpool. Nissan are currently in the process of approaching artists to perform at the events.

For more information about the Nissan Juke and related upcoming events visit www.nissanjuke.co.uk or follow them at www.twitter.com/get_juked.

Also published on www.mancunianmatters.co.uk

http://mancunianmatters.co.uk/content/weatherproof-la-roux-surprise-wet-piccadilly-secret-gig