Paralysed father of three seeks donations for stem cell treatment

A father of three left wheelchair-bound after a fall is raising funds for specialist treatment in Germany, hoping to improve his mobility and regain his independence.

In 2023, Roderick Zerafa fell while working on the roof of a room he owns in a field in Qrendi. He said he was left lying on the ground, unable to move, for three hours before anyone realised what had happened.

The accident resulted in a broken spine and spinal cord damage.

At the time, Zerafa was a 37-year-old with an active lifestyle. He worked as a project manager overseeing electrical works at Quad Central, in Mrieħel and had three children, the youngest just three months old.

“One moment you are fine, going out for a jog in the morning before heading to work, and then, the next moment, everything stops,” Zerafa told Times of Malta.

Roderick Zerafa and his wife had just welcomed their third child, three months before his fall that would leave him partially paralysed.

Learned to adjust to life in a wheelchair

He underwent emergency surgery and spent two years at Karin Grech Hospital undergoing rehabilitation. There he learned to adjust to life in a wheelchair.

Yet, Zerafa was determined to find ways to improve his quality of life, especially to support his young family.

He began searching for treatment options abroad and discovered a clinic in Thailand offering stem cell therapy and epidural stimulation for spinal cord injuries. With the support of his family, Zerafa funded the €100,000 treatment, and, in March 2024 he and his wife travelled to Thailand to undergo the procedure.

“At the time, not only could I not feel my legs but I could barely use my arms or hands,” he recalled.

He spent 40 days in Thailand and, later, continued his rehabilitation at Karin Grech. The treatment helped him regain partial use of his hands, strengthen his core and even achieve slight movement in his legs.

He was discharged from Karin Grech in July 2024.

Since then, Zerafa has invested in specialised equipment, including a walker and leg braces and a simulator machine for his legs. He said he cannot walk unaided and, when not using a wheelchair, he relies on leg braces and a walker.

“I cannot say it hasn’t been difficult,” he said.

A devoted father of three is seeking donations to help him improve his mobility and independence.

'Carrying out simple things requires 10 times more effort'

“Carrying out simple things people take for granted, like getting out of bed, walking around the house and playing with my children, requires 10 times more effort.”

Refusing to give up hope, Zerafa continued searching for ways to improve his situation. He came across the Anova IRM Stem Cell Centre, a German medical institute that provides individual treatment for patients in need of stem cell treatment. Zerafa said the treatment could repair and restore his spinal cord function.

The treatment will cost him €47,000, in the hope that it will improve his mobility and independence. He has set up a fundraising page to help with the costs.

Since then, the Whydonate page has received over €7,000 in donations, which will cover expenses for his travel, a carer to accompany him on his trip and the treatment.

“I am aware that the treatment won’t perform miracles, it won’t mean I can get up and run in a race but if it can help me get up on my own without any equipment and help me spend more time with my children, it will be a miracle.”