on Thursday, February 19th, i was invited by US Congressman Lane Evans
to be at his side at the State Capital press conference where he
announced his intentions to run for a 13th term of office. i was also
asked to make some remarks about his abilities to serve another term in
the face of outragous comments by his opponent about his health being a
factor in this campaign. here is what i said to the media:



I am Joan Blessington Snyder.
I live in Chillicothe, IL and am a wife and mom to two teenagers.
I am 52 yrs. old and have been dxed with Parkinson's Disease for almost
14 yrs. now.
I came here today to tell you why I think that Lane Evans can handle the
job that you elect him to do.
While I don't agree with every vote that Congressman Evans has cast...it
is with certainty that I can vouch for his integrity, his humanity and
his abilities.
Parkinson's Disease affects each one of differently-it's a designer
disease with no two of us progressing the same way or reacting to
medicines in the same way.
But what I know from meeting and talking to hundreds of people with
Parkinson's is that in nearly every case, our disease, (while none of us
would choose this path) has profoundly affected our lives for the better.
It has taught us patience, compassion, and how to prioritize our
commitments...and I can tell you in no uncertain terms that a person
with parkinson's is a person who is an overachiever.
 I know Lane Evans and I know his disease and I can tell you that he is
ultimately committed to continue to do the best job despite what some
may see as a disability.

I am proud to call Lane Evans a friend and I think that he embodies the
words of Pope John the 23rd when he said:

 "Consult not your fears
but your hopes and your dreams.
Think not about your frustrations,
but about your unfulfilled potential.
Concern yourself
not with what you
tried and failed in,
but with what it is still possible
for you to do."

and here is an article from the local newspaper:

Celebrating lifesaving cord blood donation
Aids scientific research
By: Karen Danner of the Chillicothe Times Bulletin
Wednesday, March 3, 2004

 In a sea of name tags which reads like the Who's Who of the political
and medical arenas sits Chillicothean  Joan Blessington Snyder.

Surrounded by people wielding so much influence, as well as an array of
family and friends, Snyder slowly makes her way to the microphone to
address the crowd gathered to "open the door to hope" celebrating cord
blood donations at Three Sisters Park Saturday night.

 With her sister, Gina Harris, lending support, Snyder's halting voice
brings  the room to a sudden silence as her words as her words of
thanks extend to everyone.

 "You all fill my heart with hope, not for my generation, but for my
kids' generation," said Snyder as her words drifted into tears.

Once again, Snyder, a self-made activist for Parkinson's disease,
realized another of her many dreams-a celebration dinner about cord
blood donation, the richest source of stem cells to save lives.

Stars of the show

 Through the determination and effort of many people, the word is
spreading about the value of donating cord blood.

 In January, a new law, House Bill 1834, took effect, making Illinois
the first state to make mandatory  doctor's offering their pregnant
patients the opportunity to donate their umbilical cord blood, which
contains lifesaving stem cells.

 Stem cell research will aid scientists in finding cures for not only
Parkinson's, but also breast cancer, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer's and more.

 According to Cryobanks International of Orlando, FL, a collector of
cord blood, after a baby is born and the umbilical  cord  clamped and
separated from the baby, blood is drawn from the cord after the placenta
is delivered.

 Once collected, the sample goes to Cryobanks, where it is processed and
stored in liquid nitrogen indefinitely.

 Not only is cord blood collection painless, it is also not as
controversial as embryonic stem cell collection and is non-invasive,
unlike bone marrow retrieval.

 Dr. Kay Savings, medical director at Children's Hospital of Illinois
told those gathered in Three Sisters Park pavilion, that the stem cells
which are located inside bone marrow also exist in cord blood.

 Savings said that the first cord blood transplant was done in the late
1980's in Paris.

 She said that cord blood donation is less expensive than bone marrow;
can be frozen, stored and remain easily available for immediate
transplant; has less chance of rejection; and causes no harm to the
recipient.

 Savings encourages awareness and spreading the word in all communities,
giving more soon-to-be mothers the chance to take part.

 University of Illinois College of Medicine health research specialist,
Peggy Mankin told the audience, "For the last two years, I've worked
with Illinois communities" earning her the nickname of the "cord blood
evangelist."

 Donations (donors remain anonymous) are listed on an international
registry, said Mankin, and, to date, Illinois residents have donated
almost 600 units of cord blood.

 Visiting Illinois once again, Texan Mitch Lechelt brought his musical
talent and a cd for all the guests, "Open Doors," on which he wrote and
sings the title song and with donated tracks from other Texas artists,
is using the cd as a fund-raiser for finding a cure for Parkinson's
disease and is now broadening its focus to include cord blood donation
awareness.

 A fellow "parkie", Lechelt met Snyder in a PD chatroom online and the
two became convinced that they were being brought together for a higher
purpose. Lechelt said the evening represented "a coming together to
change the way we deal with diseases. We're tired of being sick."

 Rep. David Leitch (R-Peoria), who sponsored HB 1834, spoke of the
diversity of people who all share a concern about others and trying to help.

 "Think about the potential we have together," said Leitch. "People
across the world will benefit from lifesaving cord blood donations."

 Master of ceremonies Gina Morss of News 25 WEEK, put in her feelings
about cord blood donation in simple words.

 "It is such a no-brainer and it's not controversial," concluded Morss.

 For more information about Lechelt's CD "Open Door," visit the web
site: www.opendoorscd.org <http://www.opendoorscd.org/>

 To learn more about cord blood donation, visit the web site:

www.cryo-intl.com <http://www.cryo-intl.com/>

or contact Snyder at:

www.plwp.org


--
Joan E. Blessington Snyder       51/13
http://www.pwnkle.com/jes/jes_web/index.htm
<[log in to unmask]>
"Hang tough...........no way through it but to do it."
Chris-in-the-Morning   (Northern Exposure)


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