CHARLOTTE — The family of a Massachusetts teen with cerebral palsy is raising money for a North Carolina treatment they hope will change his life.
Gabriel Machado was recently approved for an experimental treatment at Duke University Medical Center.
He’s set to undergo an umbilical cord blood infusion. Scientists believe the infusion of cells from a sibling’s umbilical cord blood can improve brain connectivity and motor function in children and young adults with cerebral palsy and other neurologic conditions.
The cord blood is from when Gabriel’s younger sister Maria was born 16 years ago in Brazil.
The family knows the treatment isn’t a cure, but they’re hopeful.
“You miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take, so I’d rather try this than not try and wonder what could’ve happened,” Maria told WFXT, our partners in Boston.
The family started a fundraiser to help cover the cost of the $15,000 treatment.
Maria said she dreams of hearing her brother say her name again, and this treatment could help. The family also hopes the experimental treatment can help pave the way for other young adults in need.
©2026 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
