Hello, this has been a great discussion w/ interesting theories. I wanted to tell you about a guy in my area who was wheelchair bound and could not play his guitar any longer who just had a stem cell transplant. His own revitalized cells. He is walking with assistance and playing his guitar now, and is raising money to have another... The article is in The Daily Hampshire Gazette in Northampton,Ma. on June 15, 2012, and their site is *edit* all caps. It was inspiring to me and gives me hope.
Thinking of all of you, Laurie