Air Force Veteran Battling Chronic Pain Competes for Life-Changing Stem Cell Treatment

Following 28 military deployments and enduring years of intense back and neck pain, Air Force veteran Robert Madson is optimistic that a new medical opportunity will transform his life.

Madson, 40, originally from Barron, Wisconsin, and currently residing in Florida, has joined the Hope 4 Heroes campaign, a nationwide initiative spearheaded by the Miracle Hope Foundation to help veterans and first responders obtain regenerative stem cell treatments.

Supporters can cast their votes for individual veterans competing for a fully funded week of treatment at the Cellular Performance Institute in Tijuana, Mexico, via an online voting system. Balloting is open until November 9, with the results set to be revealed on Veterans Day.

“Having spent my formative years in the quaint town of Barron, I went on to the U.S. Air Force Academy, where I trained to become a KC-135 pilot,” Madson shared in his contest biography. “I was deployed 28 times—primarily to Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen, and North Africa.” As time passed, the demands of flying and the burden of heavy equipment resulted in ongoing pain and several spinal injuries.

Recent medical scans have uncovered four bulging discs and two herniated discs in Madson’s neck and lower back. Despite undergoing physical therapy, taking medications, and receiving steroid injections, his pain intensified—ultimately leading him to abandon his flying career. “I’m rapidly finding myself confined to bed due to sciatic nerve pain,” he wrote. “Engaging in walking, sitting, and other fundamental activities can occasionally be unfeasible.”

Stem cell therapy, which uses the body's own regenerative cells to repair damaged tissue, has shown potential to address chronic pain and inflammation. Nonetheless, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) imposes strict regulations on these treatments, with most available only outside the country.

Despite warnings from experts regarding potential risks like infection or immune reactions, supporters of the Miracle Hope Foundation maintain that regenerative therapies hold promise for veterans who have few medical alternatives available. The organization covers travel and medical expenses for contest winners using funds from donations.

Cindy Kaufman Madson, Madson’s mother, said the family is relying on community support. “He feels down, but I assured him—we can make this happen,” she said. “Together, we can secure the highest number of votes.”

Enthusiasts can cast their votes each day at hope4heroes.org/rmadson until November 9. Miraclehopefoundation.org/healourheroes provides additional details about the foundation and campaign.