1. Provide the title of your story or series and the names of the journalists involved.
"Her last chance to walk," by Christina Sanchez.
2. List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Aug. 1, 2010.
3. Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
At 38, Dawn Gusty could barely walk. The mother of two had been fighting multiple sclerosis for 12 years. Her condition was degenerating, and doctors could only offer her injections to reduce her symptoms. They didn't work. She knew if she just followed their advice she would soon be immobile. She couldn't accept that and decided against the advice of her neurologist to go to Mexico to get what the United States wouldn't allow her to have a stem cell transplant. In "Her last chance to walk," The Tennessean reporter Christina Sanchez tells the story of Gusty's journey, from the first twinges of her disease through her decision to risk everything on unorthodox therapy abroad. A sidebar examined how this kind of treatment is viewed in the U.S. The storytelling was an enhanced by a mini-documentary online, giving readers an inside look at Dawn's life, as well as by a slide show and graphics explaining multiple sclerosis, stem cells and stem cell transplant.
4. Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Sanchez painstakingly reconstructed the narrative through interviews, diaries, and video footage of the surgery.
5. Explain types of human sources used.
Sanchez met multiple times with Gusty, talked to her family members, doctors and other experts. She interviewed the Mexican physician in Spanish coaxing out the smallest details to make her story come alive for the reader.
6. Results (if any).
As Sanchez's story ended, Gusty was cautiously optimistic about the abilities that she had regained, though she still faced weeks of painful exercise to try to rebuild the connections between her nerve endings and her brain. People from across the country e-mailed Sanchez, thanking her for the story and expressing hope that the controversial therapy would work for their loved ones. John Gusty, Dawn's husband, wrote: A HUGE Thank You to Christina for an amazing multi-faceted piece. Well done. Reader John D. Revelator responded in a story chat item: Ms. Gusty, I applaud your courage. I would rather go in to armed conflict again than have to face what you have faced. You are a brave, remarkable woman! Her story resonated because of Sanchez's words.
7. Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
In a follow-up story five months later, readers learned that Gusty had returned to Mexico for a second round of treatment. Her mobility did not significantly improve, but she no longer suffered constant nerve pain. Gusty said she did not regret the stem cell therapy and would continue getting the treatments if they did not require traveling abroad. No one has challenged the accuracy of either story, and no correction or clarification has been needed.
8. Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
The biggest challenge for Sanchez was getting sources to elaborate on the small details so that she could make readers feel that they were on the scene, watching the events unfold. During each interview she was planning the story, always thinking about how she might write what she was hearing, always probing for more description and more detail. She advises other journalists not to attempt this type of story after meeting the subject once. She met multiple times for long periods with Gusty and her family members in order to really get to know them.