Yet it would let nutrients wash in from Darlene's body to keep the cow cells alive. Finally, researchers hoped, it would let the pain-killing substances produced by the cells seep out into her body to do their soothing work. In short, a complex procedure such as the adrenal cell implant can depend as much on the way the cells are delivered as on the implanted cells themselves. It's possible we could be transplanting something that may be with you your entire life. It could potentially be transmitted to your loved ones.
Doctors insert calf cells.
At first, Darlene was worried the cow cells might carry mad cow disease, said her mother, Elaine Gilligan. Nonetheless, the FDA required that a log be kept of every person who was in the room during the operation, just in case of infection. Darlene Gilligan gave permission for the procedure and hoped it would end her years of pain. After the capsule was inserted through a tube into Darlene's lower back, Burgess told her to give it time. But time did not improve her condition.