About four children of every 1,000 show signs of scoliosis. In early 2008, Barmore learned that he was one of them. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine. It can eventually cause heart and lung problems, as well as pain. Unfortunately, procedures to treat the condition involve surgery to remove large bone fragments from the patient’s pelvis and use it to create a spinal fusion.

Barmore and his family opted for a less invasive procedure—using stem cells from Barmores own bone marrow to repair his spine. The stem cells catalyze new bone growth along the spine with the support of rods that fuse it into the right position. Matthew underwent this procedure, and it reduced the curvature in his spine from 50 degrees to just 15.

Three months after the operation, Matthew feels stronger every day and has no trouble playing his favorite sport–basketball.

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