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Thanks for your encouraging reply, Greg. Some of your points are reminders to me, and some are news. I'll look for more info on Spheramine, etc. I also admire Cindy Sheehan's actions, and am encouraged by the support she's getting, at the ranch, in the media, and in polls. And I do write and call my reps. I even was in a group which met with our state senator. (My congressperson, Tom Reynolds, wouldn't talk to us.) So if I have to go down, I have resolved to go down swinging. It's just hard when you're punching a brick wall. Keep the faith. Enjoy Summer! Rick McGirr Email: [log in to unmask] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Wasson" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 9:27 AM Subject: Re: How do you cope? > Rick, > > Here's how I cope. > > 1 -- By supporting people like Cindy Sheehan and the dozens of other mothers of dead soldiers who are camped outside the road to President Bush's Texas White House in Crawford right now, which is apparently making him so uncomfortable that he commented on it three times yesterday alone. He will pass by the encampment today on his way to a fundraiser. > > 2 -- By writing and phoning Congress and the President to support HR 810 on human embryonic stem cell research. If we can turn Frist, we can pass the bill and force the president to veto it or sign it. Even if he vetoes it, his party will pay dearly in the midterm elections. > > 3 -- By working in the states to enact legislation such as proposition 71 in California to do what the NIH should be doing. > > 4 -- By taking heart in the fact that vital research is going on around the world despite the policies of the current administration in the US. > > 5 -- By remembering that in August 2001 the majority of Americans did not support stem cell research and that 75% support it today -- that shift is due to a deliberate and unrelenting campaign to educate the American public about this research conducted primarily by CAMR, the JDRF, and PAN. > > 6 -- By knowing that the stage three clinical trials report on Spheramine (retinal epithelial cells) will be out before the end of the year and may be a giant leap forward in Parkinson's treatments. > > 7 -- By reading the report of the Bristol autopsy in the UK on a clinical trial participant in a study of GDNF which shows for the first time that this growth factor actually sprouted new dopamine producing neurons in the human brain without any apparent side effects or problems, and actually regressing this man's PD. No other potential treatment has been proven to regress the actual disease instead of just masking its symptoms for a few hours. > > 8 -- By taking heart in the fact that when any politician discusses curing diseases now, Parkinson's is almost always mentioned at or near the top of the list. > > 9 -- By remembering that funding for Parkinson's research has increased tenfold in less than 10 years. > > 10 -- By not giving up. > > It's a long road that has no turning. > > Good luck, > > Greg Wasson > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- -- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn