Singer Don Ho Says Procedure Saved Him

AP on Yahoo ^ | 12/22/05 | Jaymes Song - ap

[NormsRevenge]

HONOLULU - Legendary Hawaiian crooner Don Ho says he could barely walk, let alone sing, and would have been a "goner" without an experimental stem cell procedure on his ailing heart earlier this month in Thailand.

Ho, known for his signature tune "Tiny Bubbles," said he hopes to return to the stage soon.

"I'm feeling terrific, 100 percent better," Ho told The Associated Press in one of his first interviews since surgery Dec. 6. "I'm ready to go, but I've got to listen to the doctors.

"When they say my heart is strong enough to get excited, I'm on."

The 75-year-old singer underwent a new treatment that hasn't been approved in the United States. It involves multiplying stem cells taken from his blood and injecting them into his heart in hopes of strengthening it.

"It was my last hope," said Ho, who suffers from nonischemic cardiomyopathy — a weakened heart muscle not due to blockages in the coronary arteries.

The experimental procedure he underwent was developed by TheraVitae Co., which has offices in Thailand and laboratories in Israel, where Ho's stem cells were sent to be multiplied. The therapy was supervised by Dr. Amit Patel, a heart surgeon from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Ho found out about it on the Internet.

"I knew that if I didn't take things into my own hand, I would've been a goner," he said.

His heart problems had been affecting him for about a year. He had a pacemaker implanted a few months ago, but still felt weak and tired after a few steps. Before the surgery, Ho said, his heart was operating at only 25 percent.

"You can't fight Mother Nature. When you reach a certain age and you don't really take care of yourself, then she's going to give you a little signal," Ho said.

Ho has entertained tourists for more than four decades and hosted the "The Don Ho Show" on ABC in 1976-77.

He said his perspective on life has changed dramatically since the procedure. He now savors all the little things in life, like watching his children decorate the Christmas tree.

He also plans to continue entertaining in Waikiki.

"A lot of people out there come every year to get their 'Tiny Bubbles' fix," he said. "So as long as they keep coming, I might as well keep doing it.

"I retired about 40 years ago. I'm just having fun."

___

On the Net:

Don Ho: http://donho.com

[July 4th]

Bring on the ho jokes.

[Texas Eagle]

What procedure is that? Sobering up?

[Paleo Conservative]

I thought only cells recovered from disected aborted fetuses could be used as a source of stem cells.

[Rastus]

Cool. Adult stem cells are where it's at. By the way, Mr. Ho is a conservative Christian, as far as I know.

[Dahoser]

Bring on the ho jokes.

Don't you mean lady of the night jokes? :)

[kingu]

I thought only cells recovered from disected aborted fetuses could be used as a source of stem cells.

Took the thought right out of my brain... Wow, using cells from someone's own body to heal them. It'd be nice if that was what they were sticking their hands out for when seeking grant money.

[wildandcrazyrussian]

And the best thing here is that the treatment is due to ADULT stem cells (which have been successfully researched and used to treat at least 60 medical problems for going on 20 years), not EMBRYONIC stem cells, which have never once been successful, not even considering major moral issues with the idea.

But guess which one gets all the publicity and billions of tax dollars?

[beaver fever]

"Bring on the ho jokes."

OK

My name is Don Ho and my sister is a Ho.

[paudio]

Many (native) Hawaiians are. I think to some degree, the ACLU is a bit in awkward situation. If they want to push hard for the separation of church and state, they will face the fact that all kinds of government building, ceremonies, etc., are started with (native) Hawaiian blessings. Many of them are actually Christian blessings, as most (native) Hawaiians are Christians.

[digger48]

So his mother was a Ho?

[Texas Eagle]

The 75-year-old singer underwent a new treatment that hasn't been approved in the United States. It involves multiplying stem cells taken from his blood and injecting them into his heart in hopes of strengthening it.

Yo, Don. I hear taking two Alka-Seltzer the next morning has remarkable effects as well.

[Rastus]

most (native) Hawaiians are Christians

I did not know that. I read that his daughter Hoku was a very devout Christian. I don't know why I believe he is politically conservative, but I think I read something about that as well.

[Texas Eagle]

"You can't fight Mother Nature. When you reach a certain age and you don't really take care of yourself, then she's going to give you a little signal," Ho said.

Wait till you reach Mick Jagger's age, Don.

[Rastus]

Wait till you reach Mick Jagger's age, Don.

His name's Don Ho, not Methuselah!

[Revolting cat!]

Bring on the ho jokes.

Ho, ho, ho!

>>

[The Old Hoosier]

Notice how the do NOT mention that it was ADULT stem cells in this article?

[Texas Eagle]

Touche' (I don't know how to do one of those squiggly line things over the "e".

[metmom]

Not from what I've read. Apparently stem cells can be got from a number of sources and one of the most promising is umbilical cord blood; something that is readily available, easily accessible, and disposed of normally anyway. No need to kill babies for it.

[beaver fever]

"So his mother was a Ho?"

Yeah and the odd thing is, so is his father.

[Paleo Conservative]

Not from what I've read

I was being sarcastic. I'm well aware of reseach into umbilical cord blood being used as a source of stem cells along with adult cell lines.

[Grizzled Bear]

Since the tissue is his own he will not need to take immune suppression drugs for the rest of his life.

Even better; there was no infanticide involved in his treatment.

[HardStarboard]

You got a lot of class Digger.

[Grizzled Bear]

Yeah and the odd thing is, so is his father.
_______________________________________________________
Be fair; his mother didn't become a Ho until after she got mixed up with his father.

[digger48]

That' a ho lotta Ho's

[metmom]

Oops. I actually do know people who would make comments like that.

[Paleo Conservative]

I don't doubt it. I was satirizing them.

[Moonman62]

Legendary Hawaiian crooner Don Ho says he could barely walk, let alone sing, and would have been a "goner" without an experimental stem cell procedure on his ailing heart earlier this month in Thailand.

Some people go there to get better and cheaper care. 60 minutes did a story on it and it looked like the care was first rate.

[Revolting cat!]

"I'll be Ho for Christmas..."

[sgtbono2002]

I have spoken to several people who attended his concerts in Hawai and they tell me he has been sounding like he is dying for the last ten years.

[beaver fever]

"That' a ho lotta Ho's"

And Don has lived his entire life in a Ho house.

Stop me before I say something about the babies!!!!!!!!

[beaver fever]

"Be fair; his mother didn't become a Ho until after she got mixed up with his father."

"I was a decent God fearing girl until I met you and you turned me into a Ho."

Also

Pastor: "Do you take this Ho to be your lawful wedded wife?"

[conservonator]

Apparently stem cells can be got from a number of sources and one of the most promising is umbilical cord blood; something that is readily available, easily accessible, and disposed of normally anyway. No need to kill babies for it.

Yah, but wheres the money for planned infanticide in that practice? I mean for that to work, a kid actually has to be born!

[metmom]

Details, details..... What? They really aren't doing it for the benefit of mankind? Who woulda thought.

[USNBandit]

That's what Christopher Reeve told me.

[Ruth A.]

"You can't fight Mother Nature. When you reach a certain age and you don't really take care of yourself, then she's going to give you a little signal," Ho said.

It sounds exactly as though he is fighting Mother Nature.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Arizona Heart Institute is doing something similar taking cells out of the legs and growing them and injecting back into the heart.. guess the FDA still considers as experimental which means insurance won't cover it.

[Coleus]

Heart attack patients use own stem cells to heal, research finds

 

Israeli stem cell research shows umbilical cord blood can rejuvenate damaged heart tissue

[Coleus]

Heart attack patients use own stem cells to heal, research finds

 

Israeli stem cell research shows umbilical cord blood can rejuvenate damaged heart tissue

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Good news - on several fronts!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I think to some degree, the ACLU is a bit in awkward situation.

I love it when lefty beliefs collide!! It's funny watching confused liberals...

[MHGinTN]

Kudos for differentiating adult stem cells (such as MAPCs) from cord blood stem cells. So few have the backgrounder understanding to do that in this time of obfuscation by the leftists, agenda driven media. [Here's a simple backgrounder free for downloading, for those interested in 'catching up' to the stem cell issues.] Of course cord blood stem cells are sourced from the first organ a newly conceived human being builds for his or her own survival and are thus very 'plastic', that's why they are so powerful in healing methodologies as they were made to be multiple tasked for the new growing baby! ... that first organ for survival is cast aside at birth and is a great source for very plastic stem cells; Congress has approved a new program to collect and utilize these blessed helpers, these cord blood sources. [God's way is so much more 'right' than the dehumanizing leftist way ...]

[nina0113]

The adult-stem-cell researchers don't NEED to stick their hands out for grant money. They're getting private financing because they're getting RESULTS. The reason the ESCR guys have to beg for our tax dollars is because they aren't.

[Mr. Silverback]

From the article:
"The 75-year-old singer underwent a new treatment that hasn't been approved in the United States. It involves multiplying stem cells taken from his blood and injecting them into his heart in hopes of strengthening it."

ProLife Ping!

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[XEHRpa]

Book 'em Danno.

[T'wit]

Hiya, Don, how's your wife Ida?