In 2018, Sophia Agnihotri's life took a drastic turn as she began experiencing uncontrollable twitching and extreme fatigue, leading to a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in March 2019. Sophia, then 58 years old, was referred to Dr. Mya C. Schiess at UTHealth Houston for treatment.
Dr. Schiess initiated a Phase II clinical trial involving mesenchymal adult stem cells to potentially halt the progression of Parkinson's disease. Sophia, one of the trial's participants, maintained a healthy lifestyle and actively participated in the trial. Dr. Schiess commended Sophia's dedication, stating, “Sophia is still relatively young and healthy, and she embraced a really good lifestyle throughout the trial.”
Throughout the trial, Sophia emphasized the importance of a neuroprotective lifestyle, including regular exercise, which has been proven to help reduce symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Schiess highlighted Sophia's commitment to this lifestyle, saying, “Sophia embraced that idea.”
Reflecting on her journey, Sophia expressed gratitude towards Dr. Schiess, stating, “Dr. Schiess has changed my life. I started to fight back and I became stronger. I know I’m not back to my previous old self, but I certainly feel like I have a second chance at life, and I'm living again. I am excited to start seeing the world again and traveling with my husband.”
As Sophia sets out to explore the world once more, her story serves as an inspiration to others battling Parkinson’s disease.
