Thanks, Lee, would sure like to meet you, Ray
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lee Wu" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2005 12:19 AM
Subject: Re: The Great Stem Cell Debate Sydney Aug. 17th Melbourne Aug. 18th


> Dear Ray,
> Thankyou, you are my favourite Parkinsonian when it comes to this!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Lee
>
> rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Lee, good luck, sure would like to join you or go anywhere in fact, Ray
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Lee Wu"
> To:
>
> Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2005 3:47 AM
> Subject: The Great Stem Cell Debate Sydney Aug. 17th Melbourne Aug. 18th
>
>
>> Dear All,
>> The Great Stem Cell Debate hosted by ABC's Dr Norman Swan is next week.
>> Free to the public during National Science Week.
>> The Sydney debate is to be held in The Garvan Auditorium.
>> This coming Wednesday evening (August 17) from 6 - 8.30.
>> The NSW Stem Cell Network together with Victor Chang Cardiac Research
>> Institute and Garvan Institute of Medical Research is hosting a
>> hypothetical debate about the use of stem cells.
>> Special guests will be Prof. Rob Jansen - Sydney IVF
>> Prof. Bernie Tuch - Prince of Wales
>> Hospital
>> Dr Paul Brock - Stem Cell Advocate
>> To register for Sydney ring Danielle Fischer 0292958108
>>
>> Melbourne is Thurs. Aug 18th from 6 - 8.30pm at The Victorian State
>> Library.
>> Special guests will be Prof. Martin Pera - Monash University
>> Prof. Julian Savulescu - University of
>> Oxford
>> To register for Melbourne ring Sarah Chan 0383416245
>>
>> I'm going to the Sydney debate and know that many of you will be behind
>> me
>> even though you can't attend.
>> Warm Regards,
>> Lee
>>
>> Peggy Willocks wrote:
>> HR 810 "Stem Cell Enhancement Act of 2005" will most likely come to the
>> Senate for a vote by September.
>>
>>
>>
>> I know we have different feelings and beliefs on this forum, but having
>> seen
>> the 4th PWP since January pass away from PD complications has about done
>> me
>> in. In January, a good teacher friend of mine (she was my mentor) passed
>> on, then two people from my support group (they were older, but still
>> valuable people), and finally, my online friend, Tim Foley - who had MSA
>> (Parkinson's Plus) and was only 43. It's a long way off, but I believe
>> stem
>> cell research could have made a difference - if not cured, they could at
>> least have a better quality of life.
>>
>>
>>
>> At any rate, I would like to share my letter to Bush with you:
>>
>> WARNING! There is strong content about PD used in this letter.
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear President Bush:
>> August 9, 2005
>>
>>
>>
>> Today, I lost friend, age 43, to complications from Parkinson's, a
>> disease
>> I
>> have shared for nearly 12 years. Three years ago, I lost another friend,
>> 59, with Parkinson's Plus, when her immobility caused her lungs to fill
>> with
>> fluid and her kidneys to shut down. In January, another was lost, age 66,
>> when she choked on her food; and last summer yet another. Just this year,
>> I
>> lost two elderly people from my support group from Parkinson's. And the
>> long hell that these people lived through in their last years brought
>> death
>> as a welcomed reprieve. The promise of stem cell research might have
>> saved
>> at least one of them.
>>
>>
>>
>> Parkinson's is often perceived as "just a tremor," which affects mostly
>> people over 60. But more and more young onset cases are being diagnosed
>> daily. I was age 44 when diagnosed, but had symptoms as early as my late
>> 30's. I didn't do drugs, smoke, or drink; and no one in my family had
>> Parkinson's. I believe my disease is the result of environmental toxins
>> from insecticides.
>>
>>
>>
>> When diagnosed, I had been married for 27 years, had three children, and
>> was
>> enjoying a late life career as an elementary principal. What started as a
>> tremor quickly spread to periods of extremely slow and painful movement
>> of
>> my hands, arms, and legs. There are times when I cannot swallow and I
>> drool
>> with slurred speech. My feet "freeze" and I fall in attempts to walk. At
>> night I cannot turn over in bed, and I must "shuffle" my feet in the
>> mornings and suffer extreme rigidity until my medicine "kicks in." My
>> life
>> is built around a medicine bottle, and an expensive one at a monthly cost
>> of
>> nearly $900.
>>
>>
>>
>> Three years after my diagnosis, I was named 1997 Tennessee Principal of
>> the
>> Year. In 1998, I was forced to take disability retirement. Two years
>> later I underwent experimental brain surgery, which has helped, but isn't
>> a
>> cure. I have become an advocate with the Parkinson's Action Network, a
>> lobbying group in Washington, DC. Just a few months ago, I was awarded
>> the
>> Milly Kondracke Award for Outstanding Advocacy, named after the wife of
>> Mort
>> Kondracke - Fox News contributor and Executive Editor of Roll Call - who
>> lost Milly last summer.
>>
>>
>>
>> I am a pro-life Christian from a long family line of conservative
>> Republicans, but cannot understand your stand against embryonic stem cell
>> research as specifically proposed in HR 810. How can you and many others
>> be so inconsistent about protecting "life," when the very embryos you
>> allowed "man" to create are going to end up as medical waste, if not
>> adopted
>> by an infertile couple? The "Snowflake" embryo adoption program will not
>> be
>> stymied by approval of HR 810. And our country needs to set strict
>> guidelines for stem cell research, because it WILL go on in the private
>> sector.
>>
>>
>>
>> My friend, Senator Frist, knew he had to throw his support behind
>> embryonic
>> stem cell research; there are far too many indicators that it will lead
>> to
>> better treatments or the cure of many diseases, such as Parkinson's,
>> Alzheimer's, and juvenile diabetes. Won't you rethink your position? All
>> that many of us want is hope - result-oriented, scientifically-backed
>> hope -
>> found in this research.
>>
>>
>>
>> I watched as you danced with your twin girls on their 21st birthday, and
>> I
>> wondered if I will ever dance with my three grandchildren on their
>> birthdays. Please don't veto HR 810. I will probably not benefit from
>> stem
>> cell research, but my grandchildren will - and maybe your grandchildren.
>>
>>
>>
>> Peggy Willocks - TN PAN State Co-coordinator - Johnson City, TN
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Peggy
>>
>> Celebrate Life!
>>
>>
>>
>>
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