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Bravo! >From: Peggy Willocks <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Stem Cells >Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 21:06:35 -0400 > >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