"They say don`t put all your eggs in one basket," said Bernadine Ghazali, Zack`s mom. "We only have one egg. We have to do something."

They are going to Hangzhou Hospital in China to receive stem cell therapy offered by Beike Biotech, which is one of 32 laboratories worldwide offering stem cell transplants. The procedure is not done in Canada or the U.S.Â

Zack, 16, was diagnosed 18 months ago with Friedreich`s ataxia, a rare genetic disorder that weakens the nervous system and afflicts one in 40,000 people. The incurable and terminal disease disrupts co-ordination of the arms and legs, diminishes sight and hearing and can make 80 per cent of its sufferers vulnerable to heart disease and diabetes. Most people are diagnosed between five and 15 years old and live to early adulthood.

Zack, who enters Grade 12 at Lajeunesse high school in the fall, is philosophical about his condition.

"It`s just life," he said. "Some good stuff has happened and some bad stuff. You get over it and move on."

He refuses to use a wheelchair or the elevator at school and instead uses the wall to support himself as he walks around.

"I keep strong physically," he said. "I hope to get a lot better. In all honesty, I hope to get better enough for boxing."

He spends hours at the gym. One day last week he stayed in bed all day resting until it was time to haul himself to Fighting Island Boxing Club where he trains.

Last week, Bernadine Ghazali shook with nervous energy. She has the visas and toilet paper packed. She`s already paid the Chinese laboratory some of the $83,000 the trip and medical treatments will cost. Students at Lajeunesse raised $19,000, while a pasta dinner brought in $30,000. But Bernadine Ghazali, who works at Malden Park Continuing Care Centre, is still going into deep debt to make sure her son gets treatment, even if it`s a long shot.

A stem cell transplant isn`t a cure, but Bernadine Ghazali hopes it stalls the disease`s progression and helps the thickening of his heart ventricle, which is one of the biggest threats of the illness.

"For the heart, it`s almost 100 per cent promising," she said. "It`s almost like a guarantee."

Zack`s treatments involve injections of stem cells, physical rehabilitation, a bone marrow transplant and acupuncture treatment.

There are no statistics on how many Canadians seek stem cell treatment overseas, said Christina Lawand, spokeswoman for the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

"It`s out of pocket, so there is no real way to track it," she said.

The medical community in the West is skeptical about the value of stem cell treatments.

"Our scientists haven`t been able to find any peer-reviewed assessment of the procedure," said Ron Bartek, president of the Friedreich`s Ataxia Research Alliance, which is based in Virginia. "There might be some short-term bump up, but that`s over time and they don`t see any evidence the therapy has any lasting impact."

While many people might not have believed the Wright brothers when they said they had built an airplane, stem cell treatments don`t fall into the same category, said Dr. Brian Day, president of the Canadian Medical Association.

"We have concerns they are marketing an unproven technology to vulnerable people," said Day, an orthopedic surgeon. "Neurological conditions wax and wane. You hate to see vulnerable people exploited. I can`t think if any medical advance that made it`s way through this route. I`d be astounded if all the scientific research being done around the world is being trumped by a small corporation in China that is charging its patients exorbitant fees to have treatments done."

Stem cell researchers recently discussed the ethical issues surrounding stem cell therapies at the mid-June annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research.

"We can`t say it`s quackery for every company, but for many it is," said Timothy Caulfield, a University of Alberta law professor who presented a paper at the conference. "But for some, they are likely providing services for individuals who genuinely feel it works."

Donations can be made at any Royal Bank of Canada branch in Bernadine Ghazali`s name.

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