“After the treatments, it sucks less,” said Danny Cox. “I feel better than before I went.”

His mother, Maureen McGowan, emphasized that they view improvements within the context of his overall condition, which they regard as only one step along the way to recovery.

“The treatments went very well. He actually started getting new sensations in two weeks,” she said. “Danny’s healthier, his mood is good and he’s not as fragile as he was before we left. He smiles more, eats more and has more energy. Danny has more body awareness: He knows where his body is in space, and if his leg is lifted, he knows that it is in the air. Also, he’s now using a manual wheelchair instead of a power chair.