Real Life Stem Cell Stories
Real Life Stem Cell Stories
stempac.com
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 Read them -- and then take action: 1) Tell your elected officials to get rid of outdated policies and regulations that have already held up stem cell research for too long; 2) Make a donation to StemPAC, and help us spread the word.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.
Got a story yourself? Make sure to share it today! Minnesota Stories Browse stories:
all cities featured stories all stories Alexandria Blaine Hopkins Minneapolis Mounds View St Peter White Bear Lake
My six year old niece, just was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes last week. Today is her birthday. This research, could be the only thing that could someday give her a healthy future.
BONNIE L., ALEXANDRIA MN, October 13, 2006 | permalink
My story is the story of may families that have had a loved one die of ALS...Lou Gehrig's disease.
My younger brother Greg learned that he had ALS when he was about 40 - 41 yrs old. He was dead just weeks after his 44th birthday Nov. 1st, 2003.
I believe Greg's disease and the stress that it put on our entire family contributed to my father's death on August 9th 2004.
ALS is not just a disease of the old. It's victims almost always die within 3 - 5 years of it's detection. Please don't forget these unfortunate people when doing ads about stem cell research! They suffer greatly in a short period of time with no hope whatsoever from today's medical community! NO HOPE - there isn't even anything to slow down its progression as with cancer or some of the other degenerative diseases.
I would be glad to share more on the courageous story of my brother and his struggle with ALS if there is a chance that it might bring HOPE to others and support stem cell research!
K. M., White Bear Lake MN, July 21, 2005 | permalink
I support stem cell research, after learning more, because the living need help to add more quality of life, while on this earth. As long as stem cells can assist damaged tissue to begin regenerating new healthy tissue, then there is a critical reason to give this gift to millions, who otherwise remain at the stage they are in, or worse - die from their desease. Yes, the living deserve stem cell research that leads to treatment and hope for the future they want. It is without a doubt, the right direction.
Maria J., Blaine MN, August 4, 2006 | permalink
A Fall from the Sky
Plane Crash Leads Local Man to Successful Career as Innovator/entrepreneur
Approximately three and one half years ago, Twin Cities native Mark Felling dropped off a package at the post office on his way to work. It would be the last thing he remembered that month.
His memories began to return in late July after getting transferred out of ICU at Hennepin County Medical Center. At that time he learned he could not move anything but his head because he had completely crushed his neck at the C5 level. He could barely talk due to pneumonia caused by a ventilator that was assisting his breathing. During the following weeks he slowly pieced together what happened.
After leaving work late, Felling stopped off at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, Minnesota to practice a few takeoffs and landings. He was preparing for a Fourth of July flight to visit family in Central Minnesota.
After filling up with fuel, Felling took off and landed once before deciding to go around just one more time as the sun glowed full on the horizon. Following takeoff from the southbound runway his engine stalled for undeterminable reasons at the worst possible time⿿just as he was leaving the end of the runway, crossing 50 to 200 feet above Highway 212. Training dictates that with less than 500 feet of altitude there is not enough to turn around and land back on the runway. Rather one must continue straight forward and try to pick the best possible location to crash land the airplane.
Ahead was a long hill sloping down to the Minnesota River, surrounded by trees and marshes. Gliding at about 70 mph, tree branches are much more forgiving to a fixed-gear aircraft than water, which offers either certain death from impact or drowning. Felling glided along the slope of the hill while trying to restart the engine. He radioed the control tower that he was going down with little time to say much else. He turned 90° to avoid the river and apparently tried to put the small plane down in a plowed field. Instead, he ended up in the trees 50 feet short of the field.
A close friend who visited the crash site informed Felling that he was either very skillful or very lucky and had flown right between two large trees. He got the plane within 40 feet of the ground before his wing hit a large branch, stopping the airplane in midair. However, momentum caused the airplane to flip up-side-down, pivot around the wing and drop 40 feet to impact the ground. With only one inch of clearance over his head in the Plexiglas cockpit, even a full four-point harness could not prevent Felling⿿s head from getting smashed into his shoulders.
It took rescuers 45 minutes with a helicopter equipped with infrared sensors to locate Felling just across the river from Valley Fair. They found him conscious but fading, with aircraft fuel trickling down the back of his legs. He informed them he was very numb and could not move his legs or arms. As a former lifeguard Felling feels he likely suspected his spinal cord was damaged at that time. It took more rescuers and another 45 minutes to extract Felling from the upside down aircraft and airlift him away.
Soon after recovering his memory, Felling began reinventing his life⿿with a passion. He was transferred to Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, where during his first few weeks in bed he began designing in his mind what will be the world⿿s first wheelchair accessible airplane capable of being piloted by anyone who can drive a motor vehicle with hand controls. He resolved that if he would be paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair, he would simply have to design an appropriate airplane if he were to ever fly again. The ongoing project has become known as the ⿿Sky Chairiot,⿿ with others becoming involved such as Steve Craigle, a retired Boeing aerospace engineer.
During the past three years Felling⿿s life has been going full speed ahead. He has used his engineering background and previous experience teaching quality verification at high-tech companies to investigate and test more than 20 wheelchairs. He has completed his Master⿿s Degree in Business Administration. Along the way, he has invented and developed five innovative solutions to accessibility problems. These he recently introduced through his newly formed company, Broadened Horizons, under the brand ⿿Gimp Gear.⿿ These products are designed specifically for mobility impaired individuals, focusing on wheelchair users with upper extremity limitations in their hands and arms such as quadriplegia, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and ALS.
Felling⿿s creative energy reaches beyond his company. He struggled against ⿿the system⿿ for two years to obtain a Levo Combi standing wheelchair. He now hopes the Swiss company will allow him to represent them locally so others can obtain this quality chair with less difficulty. He drives a Pontiac Montana minivan with EMC ⿿drive-by wire⿿ hand controls and lives in a wheelchair accessible home. Last year he acted as his own architect and contractor to fix some basement water problems he inherited with the home and added a backyard patio. During the same time he had surgery on his left arm to implant a 12 electrode neuro-prosthesis into his paralyzed muscles to provide a sort of artificial grasp he describes as ⿿my hand, my muscles, computer-controlled.⿿ He is one of 6 people to have this particular device implanted as part of his ongoing involvement in a research study at The FES Center in Cleveland, Ohio. More information on Felling⿿s ongoing projects, the detailed story of his crash complete with photos and video news coverage, as well as many disability and advocacy resources can be found on his personal Web site at: www. MarkFelling.com. More information on the Sky Chairiot project can be found at www.BroadenedHorizons.org. His company⿿s Web site is www.GimpGear.US.
Mark F., Minneapolis MN, January 7, 2007 | permalink
I have a brother with juvenile diabetes that he's had since age 5, now he is 41 and has major complications. If there is any chance that the embryos that would be thrown away can help him and others with diseases, why not use them? My husband and I both have medical backgrounds and have 2 adopted children. Please don't veto this life saving measure.
Naomi N., mounds view MN, August 4, 2006 | permalink
My health is very poor & I am sure in the future I or my family will benefit from the research!
patricia m., hopkins MN, August 4, 2005 | permalink
My Wife's mother died at 64 from diabetes. At the end of her life she was legally blind and had a host of associated medical conditions. A friend of mine lost his father (age 58) to Alzheimers. I have a cousin who is fighting cancer. I have another relative who was paralyzed in an electrocution. Each of these people have or would have had a chance at a better life through stem cell therapy.
Peter W., St Peter MN, July 17, 2006 | permalink
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