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Peggy, what a powerful letter! You speak for me, for sure. Just hope President Bush reads it. Although some people have a kind of inborn empathy, I fear he is the kind of person who has to "walk a mile in our shoes" Ray ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peggy Willocks" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 6:06 PM Subject: Stem Cells > 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn