Donna: Hi, I’m Donna McCairn and this is my son…
James: James
Donna: And how old are you James?
James: 14 years old, 15…
Donna: Yeah, 15 in February. So, we came to Stem Cells last September and since then, the changes we’ve seen in James is that his math has really improved. For the first time he got two B’s at the end of last year for school. And then this year he had a target to get 70% mark by June of this year, but he actually got it when, James?
James: This month – for math.
Donna: For your test? And what have you noticed with the stem cells? What things have you found easier?
James: My daily life.
Donna: Such as?
James: Getting ready for school.
Donna: And what about your homework?
James: I’m completing my homework on time.
Donna: And so what we found at home is James is being more self-directed so instead of coming home and struggling to get through all the homework, he’s come home and sort of had that forward awareness where, “I’ve gotta get my homework done because it’s due tomorrow,” and sitting down and starting his homework unassisted, which has been a huge change. And what about with other people? What changes have you felt?
James: I’m talking to more people.
Donna: And are you less shy or more shy?
James: Less shy.
Donna: Ugh Huh. And what happened on this trip to Panama?
James: I made some friends.
Donna: It’s a first. As all the parents know, making friends is the hardest thing, isn’t it?
James: Yeah
Donna: Yeah. Reading people is really tricky. So with our home life, with his siblings, there’s been less arguing, more being friendly, more being able to reason, just not getting so uptight and blocked. He can understand others rather than being self-orientated and only interested in what he needs and getting frustrated. He’s starting to see his sisters’ point of view, But… They’re still not right are they?
James: Um, Hmm. (laughing)
Donna: And it’s those little things. So. James likes to be driven to school, but when I say, “No, you gotta go catch the bus,” he normally would have resisted and waited and waited, but what I’ve notice between the last stem cell visit and this visit is the ability for him to reason, “Okay, mom’s not going to drive me to school today. I just have to get ready and go.” Whereas before, he’d just wait, and just wait until someone just gave in, or at least walked him to the bus stop to get the bus. And what about coming home from school on your own on the bus?
James: I’m more happy.
Donna: And what about walking with the other boys?
James: I talk to them more.
Donna: And do you sometimes walk and get off the bus with the other boys and come the other way?
James: Yeah
Donna: So, it’s like he can get off at a stop where boys from his school get off together, and that’s a very new thing to go, “Oh, I need to be…” We all said, “You need to be in a group. You need pals.” What are you nudging me for? What’s the best thing about coming to Stem Cells?
James: The people and it doesn’t hurt. Oh, bringing your parents.
Donna: No, No, not parents. Being on holidays…
James: With mom.
Donna: Exactly! Being on holidays with mom. So if you want a great holiday, leave the kids. Leave the husband. Just come with your boy.
