United States: Over a span of 21 years, Sebastien Beauzile endured continuous pain from sickle cell anemia.
A Life Transformed by Medical Innovation
A revolutionary genetic treatment brought about disease elimination, making him the first New Yorker to achieve this medical breakthrough, as reported by HealthDay.
“Sickle cell was like a blockade for me, but now it’s just like a wall that I just jumped over,” Beauzile said in a report published by CBS News.
A Breakthrough Gene Therapy
The medical facility applied the innovative gene therapy Lyfgenia to modify patients’ bone marrow cells to produce healthy red blood cells.
“When we could use Sebastien’s stem cells to do this therapy, we were delighted,” Dr. Banu Aygun, a New York-based physician who specializes in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, N.Y., said.
The First True Cure for Sickle Cell Disease
The medical condition sickle cell anemia received its first detailed description in 1910 and mainly presents itself in individuals from African, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern backgrounds.
“Here we are over 100 years later, and this is the first cure you are seeing,” Dr. Jeffrey Lipton, another physician who specializes in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at Northwell Health, said.
Expanding Treatment to More Patients
Physicians at Cohen Children’s Medical Center said they can’t wait to treat more youngsters with this transformative treatment.
“We feel blessed to be able to offer, be the first ones to be able to offer this,” Dr. Jonathan Davi Fish, a pediatric hematologist/oncologist at Northwell Health, added.
“Sebastien has been coming to this hospital since he was 2 months old. There are not enough words to show you how grateful I am,” Magda Lamour, Beauzile’s mother, told CBS News.
Beauzile plans to resume traveling along with education while continuing physical exercise after defeating the disease. His professional goal is to work in the medical field, as reported by HealthDay.
“I can’t wait to get back to my day-to-day life because now I feel unstoppable,” he said.
Support for Future Research
Ben Crump, the civil rights attorney, made a $100,000 contribution to Northwell Health while supporting future sickle cell disease treatment development.