Pro-Life News in Brief.

Adult Stem Cell Treatment Saves Singer Don Ho

Hawaiian singer Don Ho announced that his serious heart condition was treated successfully by stem cells derived from his own blood. The 75-year-old performer, best known for his song "Tiny Bubbles," told the Associated Press (AP) that he is ready to return to the stage.

"I'm feeling terrific, 100 percent better," Ho told the AP. "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."

Ho's condition is called nonischemic cardiomyopathy, or a weakened heart muscle. His heart muscle's "ejection fractions," which is the measurement of the ability for the heart to pump blood, were 1015%, compared to a healthy rate of 5565%, the AP reported. He had a pacemaker implanted a year ago, but his condition continued to deteriorate.

From reports on the Internet, Ho found out about the VesCell adult stem cell therapy developed by Dr. Amit Patel and conducted in Thailand. Blood was drawn from Ho, the stem cells were extracted and multiplied, and they were reinserted into his heart during a procedure in a Thailand hospital December 6.

Patel told the AP that the procedure went well. "His prognosis in terms of recovering from surgery, thus far, is good," Patel said. "In terms of singing, it would really be up to him."

Ho plans to resume his show in Waikiki soon. "A lot of people out there come every year to get their 'Tiny Bubbles' fix," he told the AP. "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."