Elder grad, Wright State athlete receives stem cells
Update May 1: Ryan Custer is now waiting to see how he might benefit from a recent stem cell procedure.
Last week Custer, the Elder High School graduate and Wright State University basketball player who suffered a spinal cord injury on April 8, became the third person in the world to receive 20 million stem cells during a medical procedure, and the 12th in the world to get stem cells for a spinal cord injury, this according to Ryan Custer’s Recovery Care Page on Facebook. The family continues to provide health updates on this page.
It will take 60 to 90 days before the results of the procedure will be fully known.
HBO took an interest in the procedure and conducted interviews of Custer and his mother as well as filmed the actual medical procedure, according to the care page.
The family also announced that over the weekend the Ryan Custer 33 Recovery Fund at GoFundMe exceeded its $100,000 goal.
Previous reporting: Reading from a prepared statement, pausing to choke back emotions a few times, the father of the recently injured Wright State University basketball player and Elder High School graduate, Ryan Custer, offered an update on his son’s condition.
He’s shown some improvement in the past few days, George Custer said during a news conference at University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He has some feeling in his fingers and some slight movement, he said. He’s also felt the tops of his feet being rubbed and said there’s some tingling in his thighs and feet.
Ryan Custer suffered a spinal injury April 8 after he reportedly attempted to dive into a make-shift pool while at a party near Miami University. He was flown to UC Medical Center where he underwent surgery and has remained since the accident.
“Right now Ryan is being considered for a stem cell study at Rush University in Chicago,” George Custer said.
He leaves Friday morning but there are no guarantees he will be accepted into the study. He will be evaluated for five days.
“Hopefully he’ll pass the test they’re going to give him and he’ll receive an injection and he’ll be there for seven to nine days afterward for further evaluation,” Custer said. In-house rehabilitation will follow at a yet-to-be-determined location.
Custer, with his wife, Kim, by his side, expressed gratitude for the prayers, support and kindness shown to his family and Ryan over the past week and for the generous donations to the GoFundMe page set up for Ryan.
The Ryan Custer 33 Recovery Fund has raised more than $81,000 towards its $100,000 goal.
“Those donations will be extremely helpful in ensuring Ryan receives the best care that he can get so we can get him back to the way he was,” Custer said.
He asked for continued prayers as well.
“The more prayers we have, maybe God will answer our prayers and give him the healing that he needs,” he said.
For those wanting to follow his progress, updates will continue to be provided on Ryan Custer’s Recovery Care Page on Facebook.