Powerless to catch his breath, Shelton initially became aware of the fact that his heart was straining while square-dancing one evening.

“He started getting worse and worse,” Shelton said, and he was finally diagnosed with congestive heart failure at Cape Canaveral Hospital in Cocoa Beach.

“I overheard one of my doctors talking to another doctor who said I was on a slippery slope,” and that is when the 74-year-old Merrit Island resident realized the critical nature of his heart condition. Congestive heart failure afflicts about 5 million other Americans.

His relatives felt a hospice was the best choice, a non-curative care center for those individuals whose life expectancy is not anticipated to surpass six months.

While under hospice care, Strickland read about how doctors use adult stem cells taken from the patients own blood, and through an experimental procedure treat and strengthen an individuals deteriorating heart.

Referring to the $34,500 price tag he said, “it is expensive.” The price includes treatment and accommodations for 14 days in Bangkok and is not covered by insurance.