Family Wants to Go to China For Stem Cell Hope

DOCTORS SAY STEM CELLS CAN BE USED TO CURE EVERYTHING FROM PARALYSIS TO CANCER TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

A MIDDLE TENNESSEE MOTHER HOPES THEY CAN DO ONE MORE THING -- EASE HER DAUGHTER'S PAIN

TOM AND DEBBIE OTTINGER HAVE THREE HEALTHY CHILDREN AND A FOURTH WITH A RARE DISORDER THAT RESULTS IN VIOLENT MUSCLE SPASMS.

LIKE MOST PARENTS, THE OTTINGER'S WILL DO ANYTHING TO EASE HER PAIN.

BUT THE TREATMENT THEY BELIEVE HOLDS THE MOST PROMISE ISN'T AVAILABLE IN THE U-S.

THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO MELT AWAY THE MILES AND THE FINANCIAL OBSTACLES TO GIVE THEIR DAUGHTER A CHANCE AT A BETTER LIFE

CHARLENE OTTINGER IS 15-YEARS-OLD BUT SHE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO UTTER A SINGLE WORD IN MORE THAN 10.

HER MOTHER SAYS THREE FOURTHS OF CHARLENE'S BRAIN WAS DESTROYED BY A TERRIBLE STROKE BROUGHT ON BY HER BODY'S INABILITY TO DIGEST PROTEIN.

Debbie Ottinger/Mother: "She's one of the older kids that we know of with as much damage as she has. We don't know of any others that have made it to her age"

DESPITE THE DAMAGE, DEBBIE OTTINGER SAYS HER DAUGHTER UNDERSTANDS EVERYTHING, ENJOYS LIFE AS BEST SHE CAN AND LOVES COUNTRY MUSIC.

TRACE ADKINS IS HER FAVORITE SINGER.

THE OTTINGER'S BELIEVE STEM CELL THERAPY WILL HELP EASE CHARLENE'S MUSCLE SPASMS AND THEY'VE FOUND AN OVERSEAS CLINIC THAT THINKS SO TOO.

Debbie Ottinger: "They've never had a person with this disorder but they're very confident that stem cell therapy would improve her life. They can't guarantee it but they feel very confident about it"

TO GET THAT TREATMENT, THE OTTINGER'S HAVE TO GET FROM MIDDLE TENNESSEE TO HANGZHOU CITY, CHINA.

THE TRIP AND TREATMENT WILL COST 30-THOUSAND DOLLARS AND BECAUSE IT'S NOT FDA APPROVED, INSURANCE WON'T HELP.

"There's no chance. It's something experimental and optional as far as they're concerned. It's not a medical necessity."

IT'S A LONG SHOT DEBBIE OTTINGER BELIEVES WILL EASE CHARLENE'S PAIN, INCREASE THE MOVEMENT IN HER FINGERS AND MAKE IT EASIER TO USE THE MACHINES AT SCHOOL THAT HELP HER COMMUNICATE.

Debbie Ottinger: "I mean I've talked to parents and seen their home video of these kids. It's amazing what it has done for them. Kids that didn't talk before are now saying, Mom"

"little things that will just make her life better"

THE CLINIC THE OTTINGER'S ARE TALKING TO USES UMBILILICAL CHORD STEM CELLS.

THE FAMILY IS OPEN TO EVERYTHING FROM BAKE SALES TO CONCERTS TO RAISE THE MONEY THEY NEED AND ARE HOPING SOMEONE WHO HEARS ABOUT THEIR STORY WILL HELP.

WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTEDFamily Wants to Go to China For Stem Cell Hope