Although stem cell research and the promises of what it can do for humans have been around for a few decades, its application for treating several health conditions has become more popular today. Amongst the prominent professionals researching stem cells and applying their discovery to treat Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD),Dr. Eric Weiss is at the forefront.

Dr. Eric Weiss
Dr. Eric Weiss Dr. Eric Weiss

His journey on this path began with his wife, Christine (Chris Weiss), after the birth of their son, Marston, who was diagnosed with autism. Being a mother and having a husband that is a physician, it was a situation they would not accept without a fight. So began their concerted quest to find answers.

"We went to the University of Illinois, Chicago," says Dr. Eric. "Chris found researcher Dr. Thomas Lobe, a world-renowned pediatric surgeon who offered this therapy to us. We went to see Dr. Lobe, and the therapy had tremendous benefits for our son."

Indeed, the responsibility of raising an autistic child can be a very daunting task for many parents. But Chris and Dr. Weiss say you are not alone on this journey. That is why Chris wrote 'Educating Marston: A Mother and Son's Journey Through Autism;' a powerful resource to inspire, teach, and encourage parents not to give up the struggle to achieve a better life for their child.

The bookis an educational resource that takes the reader through various emotions and portrays the devotion, determination, and commitment to help Marston live his best life. Readers will be educated on the autistic spectrum, the therapies to support, inspired to love and respect those living on the autism spectrum, as well as the families that are devoted to helping them.

"This memoir is our journey of educating Marston through programs like The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential, Vision Therapy, the Tomatis® Method, Marion Blank's approach to reading, hippo-therapy, ballroom dancing, and the list goes on until we discovered umbilical cord/stem cell therapy," explainsChris. "This book has made a difference in so many people's lives, and I'm really happy that we both wrote a book," she says.

. This book is very important, because the incidence of utistic Spectrum Disorder has increased significantly in recent years. Autism Spectrum Disorder occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. About 1 in 44 males or children is diagnosed with ASD, making the condition more prevalent today than some decades ago. In 2000 the incidence of ASD was 1 in 150 children.

The book also introduces Umbilical Cord Blood/Stem Cell Therapy. According to Dr. Weiss, umbilical cord blood contains powerful cells designed to promote the healing capacity of the human body. These cells seek out cells that are old, inflamed,damaged, or injured. "Children with autism tend to have Neuro-inflammation(inflammation of the brain) as well asother inflammatory processes, " saysDr. Eric Weiss. " We see gut issues, with bloating, diarrhea, and constipation; they tolerate certain foods, they don't tolerate others. They may have multiple allergies.

In the case of Marston, he was largely dependent on other people's help to navigate life. Then after he received the umbilical cord blood/ stem cells therapy, his vocabulary expanded, and he started talking about more abstract things. "He improved not only socially, but in speech and executive function. It was truly miraculous to see him improve. He continues to improve," says Dr. Weiss.

So,Educating Marston isn't just a book; it is a roadmap of what she and her husband did, how far they went to help their son, and the opportunities and resources for others to explore and take advantage of.

According to Chris, the book is an assurance that there's hope out there and that you are not alone if you have a child on the autistic spectrum. After witnessing the gains made by his son, Dr. Weiss began giving Umbilical Cord Blood to children and young adults with Autism. His goal is to restore wholeness to all patients by using umbilical cord blood stem cells to treat multiple health conditions, not just autism.

"People are starting to learn about umbilical cord blood stem cell therapy," notes Dr. Eric. "I've had parents from the Middle East, Canada, and the United States. We set up a phone meeting, especially if they're out of state. If they'd like to move forward, we move forward," he says.

Dr. Weiss is amongst the leading experts in regenerative therapy, offering umbilical cord/stem cell therapy as a viable option to treat children with ASD, doing all they can to give them a better chance at living improved lives.