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! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn