Real Life Stem Cell Stories

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Real Life Stem Cell Stories

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These are real stories from real people who have already been waiting too long for the promise of stem cell research. Read them -- and then take action: 1) Tell your elected officials to get rid of outdated policies and regulations that have already held up stem cell research for too long; 2) Make a donation to StemPAC, and help us spread the word. It's a grassroots movement, and we don't need much -- but any amount helps.

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Here is the exact wording of the entire Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 I want congress to pass on to the President for his approval, it has four essential new provisions, please read it for yourself before you make up your mind. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. hehehe

HR 810 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research that utilizes human embryonic stem cells, regardless of the date on which the stem cells were derived from a human embryo, provided such embryos: (1) have been donated from in vitro fertilization clinics; (2) were created for the purposes of fertility treatment; (3) were in excess of the needs of the individuals seeking such treatment and would never be implanted in a woman and would otherwise be discarded (as determined in consultation with the individuals seeking fertility treatment); and (4) were donated by such individuals with written informed consent and without any financial or other inducements.

S 471 that the senate may vote on this week is identical in wording. My comments This is a single medical ethical and uniquely modern moral issue about life itself. Even bibical scholars do not all agree or all have the same answers for modern science. Fertility clinics are a fact of modern life. These tiny fertilized eggs, with 2, 4 and 8 cells do exist. The President has approved some of these for research before. We do need an ethical national law to prevent the buying and selling of these embryos and the patchwork of state laws that are emerging.

My personal faith-based opinion is that our God gave doctors and scientists the knowledge and skills to save lives. He gave them the knowledge and skill to create and grow these man made human embryonic cells in a lab dish. This is a unique form of human life outside of the womb. Conception in the womb did not occur. These surplus fertilized ES cells do contain a divine spark of human life, however small, and I believe God would not want to see them discarded,wasted or remain frozen indefinitely. These specific ones are never going to be placed in any womb. They are still a divine gift of God's love, a surplus of life itself that would gain new meaning and purpose in life, if used to save other people's lives and treat the diseases and paralysis that cause terrible suffering and death of millions of people living from the womb to the tomb in our world today.

I think Bush should rethink his original opinion and seriously reconsider what his own staff, like the head of the National Cancer Institute and other NIH officials and many university researchers have been telling him. That these fresh new ES cells definitely have more pure potential and less age related problems than older embryonic cell lines he approved in 2001, that have now been kept growing with possible mutation for several years and/or adult stem cells that may have developed other genetic defects from mouse feeders etc that can cause cancer. Stop protecting the patents of his corporate friends. I believe God wants us to protect all life equally, and this is a uniquely human opportunity to conserve, renew, reuse and recyle these special extra ES cells(often only 2,4 or 8 cells) in the first four or five days of their existence for potential new life.

I have a primary motive as well. Some say I am a feisty old brain tumor lady, an original Meningioma Grandma, and dismiss my words and advice without listening, but I believe I am obligated to share my personal opinion to help get this bill approved. Doctors have saved my life twice already in the past twenty years with major craniotomy procedures. I have seen millions of our federal government medical research dollars and twenty years spent on animal and mouse tumor research, what I started calling RATS, for redundant animal test samples about ten years ago. hehehe.

This bipartisan bill supported by a clear majority of those who really know what they are talking about in both parties. Doctors and scientists, will be able to provide more human health knowledge for the public, not just for the rich, who already can go to other countries, UK Canada, India, even South Korea where they removed ES cells from the wombs of female volunteers for human clinical trials. Since 1998, I have hoped someday they will be able to repair my optic nerve damage and left eye vision loss from my recurrent low-grade brain tumor with parts of these ES cells mixed with some of my own cells without any immune system rejection. I don't want abortion-like techniques to harvest from the womb ever to be used in the US. This bill helps direct us away from that privately funded possiblity, if these federal guidelines are approved. GBYAY Anne McGinnis Breen

Anne McGinnis B., Oro Valley AZ, July 27, 2005 | permalink

My oldest daughter has fibromyalgia, my youngest daughter has PKU, my wife has diabetes, and I have multiple sclerosis. All of these problems, as well as many more, are at least in part genentically caused and potentially could be helped or cured if scientists are allowed to make full use of stem cell reasearch. However, since it is politically expedient to embrace the antiquated views held by some of the Evangelical Christians, this research could very likely be delayed, which is criminal.

Bill A., Phoenix AZ, July 20, 2005 | permalink

During May of 1984 I was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. At the time I was 7 years old.

For the first few years the shots were very scary. Dealing with the rigid diet was terribly difficult. However, I eventually came to grips with these things. These days I very rarely even feel any of my shots. That's not surprising seeing as I've taken more than 25 thousand injections.

What I've been unable to come to grips with, even after all these years, is knowing the likely cause of my death. Barring some unfortunate accident Diabetes will almost certainly eventually kill me. I try my hardest to keep my blood sugar under control but it still oscillates widely. Now and then my vision blurs in and out. Every time that happens I hold my breath worried that my eyes are finally succumbing to the leaky blood vessels in the rears of my eyes. I have no hope of ever marrying and having children of my own. Most of the time I can't even feel my sexual organs. A woman would be a fool to commit herself to someone with a malady like mine. Diabetes is preventing me from experiencing one of the most basic human experiences.

I've followed the debate over using excess embryonic stem cells for research purposes for several years. It hurts like a gash in my soul to watch certain politicians attempt to block the only research that I believe has a chance to save my life. A few years ago I was dismayed when certain politicians authorized the use of federal funds to encourage the adoption of excess embryos over the adoption of living breathing human orphans. A few weeks ago when President Bush attempted to use these adopted embryos to justify ignoring the plight of myself and many millions of others I was incensed. There need be no debate, I AM A HUMAN BEING! My welfare should be at least as important to the people who represent Americans in Washington as that of an embryo.

To those who fear a political backlash for voting for expanding embryonic stem cell research I say this. Embryonic stem cell research is the only voting issue for me. I voted for Kerry because he supported expanding research. If Bush had supported more research and Kerry hadn't then I would have voted for Bush. Moreover, I have a father, mother, brother and two sisters. I've educated them all on what's at stake for millions of Americans. I have 2 cousins who have Juvenile Diabetes. They've educated another dozen or so members of my extended family. I work with many members of the LDS and I've tried to carefully explain to them the hope it holds for so many. Similarly many millions of other Diabetics, Paraplegics, Parkinson's sufferers, and those with other illnesses who could benefit from this research are educating their friends and relatives. The country wants this, but being mainstream we just don't usually preach as loud as certain religious groups. I know many religious people who would give a politician a wash on voting for more research funds. They don't know if it's right or wrong to destroy an embryo that's already slated for destruction, but they do know they have full blown friends and family members withering away due to maladies.

To those who object to expanding funding for embryonic stem cell research for ethical/religious reasons I say this. I try to respect you for following your conscience. That being said a handful of the frozen embryos which you are protecting will be implanted in women and become children. I hope those handful of children's lives have enough grace to wash away the stain on your soul for the millions of deaths which you are partly responsible for because you helped delay life saving cures for those in need. I hope your God forgives you because I don't think I can.

Diabetes has scarred my psyche. If American politicians at least acted liked they cared about my plight it would be a sweet balm. Right now I say to myself, "I live in a country that believes my life is irrelevant". I hope someday soon to say, "My country is fighting for my life too".

Dan P., Tempe AZ, June 11, 2005 | permalink

I am retired organic chemist/biochemist. The question of the use of embryonic stem cells, particularly those thousands which will be destroyed in fertility clinics within the near future and beyond, for therapeutic purposes, should be resolved through scientific and reasonable ethical considerations, not on extremist religious grounds. President Bush's policies and those of the insistent fundamentalist "Christian" community, who are a small, though vocal minority, will, in any event, be transcended and rendered moot by advances made by privately funded and foreign scientistrs who are not bound by the foolish policies of our government.

Francis S., Scottsdale AZ, July 13, 2005 | permalink

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when I was nine years old and have lived with it for 23 years now. I consider myself lucky because so far I have not suffered many of the grave complications that usually affect those with my disease. On a daily basis my life consists of needles, steralization, sliding scales and guesswork to try and keep my blood sugar under control. I am considered a "Brittle" Diabetic, which means that my diabetes is very difficult to control and does not follow any type of textbook guidelines. That can get very tricky when you are trying to keep your A1C under seven. During my teenage years I spent most of my time in the hospital since I was unable to control the effect that my changing hormones had on my blood sugar levels. The battle has been long and hard and I still deal with it every day. The luxury of just living is tempered by the fact that I can't just live, I have to always be aware of where my blood sugar is, what time my next shot is and be accountable for every bite of food. I see stem cell research as an answer for those that are living with such devastating diseases such as Diabetes, Parkinsons and Spinal Cord Injuries. I especially see a chance for the children that are living with Type 1 Diabetes, no child should have to be as mature as what this disease demands.

Jennifer F., Phoenix AZ, June 16, 2005 | permalink

Have a heart!

Kristie C., Scottsdale AZ, January 7, 2007 | permalink

my cousin has a spinal injury that confines him to a wheelchair. i hope he can one day walk again, but we, as a nation, have to put politics/ religion aside when we're talking about saving a life. I am a Christian, and I believe God gave us the resouces to use our brains to relieve suffering. We should use every available resource. period.

patricia c., scottsdale AZ, July 17, 2006 | permalink

At age 28 and 30 I had 2 operations for arterio-venus fistulas. At ages 43 and 44 2 surgeries for ovarian cancer. At age 67 I had 2 DBS brain surgeries (for which you must be awake) for Parkinson's disease tremors. Now 70 I have had PD for over 10 years and it is the worst of all because unlike cancer, where you win or lose, with PD your life is slowly sucked away. You can't do anything you did before - it steals your life while you are still alive. Since we have lost over 5 years research time due to President Bush's short-sighted, inhumane policies, I will never benefit from research that should have gone forward as a matter of course. My only hope is that eventually someone will. Do I personally dislike this guy? I hate him.

Rayilyn B., Surpise AZ, June 4, 2005 | permalink

After surviving ovarian cancer at age 43, I got Parkinson's disease at age 60. I am now 69 and it has destroyed what is left of my life.

Since I can barely walk, talk, swallow, use my hands, have double vision, I am simply existing, awaiting death. Two years ago I had two (one was a redo) DBS brain surgeries, where you have to be awake while they drill holes in your skull and put electrodes in your brain. These procedures stopped the bilateral killer tremors I had. I for sure would have killed myself some way if that had gone on. In a couple of years I will have to have the batteries replaced in my chest implants.

If I were well I would support all kinds of stem cell research, but it is really horrible to sit by and slowly die while that imbecile Bush and his cronies play games with my life.

Rayilyn B., Surprise AZ, August 4, 2005 | permalink


Please, my 19 month old daughter Paige Stout suffers from a neuromuscular disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy which is "eating" away her muscles. She is fully coherent and alert of her surroundings, and is as "smart as a button!" Please, stem cell research can help her, it can help her say the only word I've ever wanted to hear, "Momma", it will help her walk, breathe, eat on her own and live a life that is full and will allow me, as her mother take her to the beach, which is the only other dream that I have for her. I want her to feel the sand between her toes and I want her to run towards me! Please support it! Please!

Samantha S., Tucson AZ, August 4, 2006 | permalink

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