The process was straightforward. My first treatment took place in Cancun, Mexico, where I received three infusions. Almost immediately, I noticed a dramatic reduction in body aches. Within a month, I also gained nearly 20 pounds—something I had been unable to do for years despite eating well. Later treatments added even more improvement: the gout I had struggled with disappeared, my dropped foot regained muscle strength, and my balance returned. I can now ride my bike again, dress myself without assistance, and live with an independence I thought I’d lost forever.

One of the most surprising outcomes was the return of my sense of smell and taste, which I had lost years earlier after a fall. Doctors told me it would never come back, yet within months of therapy, both senses were restored.

Perhaps the most telling moment came when my wife, who works as an administrator at an advanced surgery center, was exposed to COVID-19 in March of 2020. She and my daughter battled lingering symptoms for weeks. I, however, experienced just one day of mild fever and cough—and then it was gone.

Since my first treatment I have been back every year. My disease is progressive so I need to keep up with my treatments. Today, I continue to defy the prognosis I was given years ago. My quality of life has been transformed, and instead of being bound to a wheelchair, I’m active, independent, and living with hope again.

Marc’s wife, Gaylene, who has been by Marc’s side throughout his journey with IBM, shared several videos with us that document Marc’s time in Cancun:

When he arrived at Hospital Galenia for his first stem cell infusion, Marc relied on a wheelchair, cane, or other mobility aids. The video below shows Marc entering the hospital for the first time.

During his time in Cancun, Marc noticed immediate improvements, as he soon felt well enough to walk on his own. The series of videos below documents these early improvements.