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hi all At 12:10 2000/09/28 EDT, jim finn wrote: >Friends - > >This week marks the 4th anniversary of the operation transplanting cells >(obtained from specially bred pigs) into my brain in an attempt to diminish >the ravages of Parkinson's Disease. This process is known as >xenotransplantation. During the past 4 years I have written a diary of >experiences with this exciting research. For those of you who have not read >it, please go to Janet Paterson's WebSite where she graciously maintains the >chronicle. <www.geocities.com/janet313/pienet/finn>. > >Yesterday I spent the entire day in Boston with the attending neurologist and >his staff. They are the team that has been monitoring my progress both >before and after the operation. The usual tests were performed; walking, >balance, dexterity, speech, cognitive ability, rigidity, tremor, blood work, >an MRI, etc. They are done twice; first in the "off" state (when I've had no >medication for over 16 hours) and then again when "on." > >Even when "off" I do pretty well on most of the tests. In fact, there is no >problem in getting from the parking lot to the doctor's office, a distance of >several city-blocks. Prior to the operation such a task was extremely >difficult; now I don't give it too much thought. The wheel chair (which I >was having to use more frequently before the surgery) is collecting dust in >the garage. Ditto the cane. Naturally, the freedom from these devices is >most welcome. > >Two words came up during the day. They were "excellent" and "impressive." >The medical staff is very pleased with my progress. While it is obvious I >still have Parkinson's, the symptoms are greatly reduced. Let's hope this >continues! > >Xenotransplantation is not without controversy. There is the fear of unknown >viruses being transmitted (from another species) into mankind. I am happy to >report that no viruses have shown up in any of the participants in this >medical study. > >As you can tell, I'm pretty excited by all of this and firmly believe in this >procedure. But it's clearly not for everyone. Out of the original group of >12 I apparently have had the best results. The question is, "Why?" >Obviously, much research remains to be done. We may be seeing just the >proverbial tip of the iceberg. > >A few words on publicity. While I have not sought any, I have made myself >available to both print and broadcast outlets. The story of >xenotransplantation, and the hope that it provides, is an important one. Not >only to victims of neurological disorders but others as well. This research >may lead to treatments and cures for a great variety of conditions. Things >like diseases of the heart, liver, and lungs for example. The potential is >enormous. > >The press knows this. As a result I have been inundated with requests for >interviews. This story, and my small role in it, has been portrayed on >television by "60 Minutes," "HealthWeek," and several other broadcasters such >as the famed BBC. Several magazines, including "Popular Science" have >published articles. Other projects are in production. > >Questions? Feel free to write directly to me and I'll do my best to answer >them. > >Jim Finn it's all wonderful news jim! (as i keep saying, you are the only parkie i know who is getting better!) i can barely express my gratitude to you for being the guinea-pig (ooops) in all of this but i do thank you the very least i can do is help get your story out to as many parkies [and others involved with pd] as possible i consider it a privilege janet janet paterson 53 now / 44 dx cd / 43 onset cd / 41 dx pd / 37 onset pd TEL: 613 256 8340 URL: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/ EMAIL: [log in to unmask] SMAIL: PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario K0A 1A0 Canada