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Thanks, Lee, would sure like to meet you, Ray ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lee Wu" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, August 15, 2005 12:19 AM Subject: Re: The Great Stem Cell Debate Sydney Aug. 17th Melbourne Aug. 18th > Dear Ray, > Thankyou, you are my favourite Parkinsonian when it comes to this! > > Cheers, > > Lee > > rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Lee, good luck, sure would like to join you or go anywhere in fact, Ray > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Lee Wu" > To: > > Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2005 3:47 AM > Subject: The Great Stem Cell Debate Sydney Aug. 17th Melbourne Aug. 18th > > >> Dear All, >> The Great Stem Cell Debate hosted by ABC's Dr Norman Swan is next week. >> Free to the public during National Science Week. >> The Sydney debate is to be held in The Garvan Auditorium. >> This coming Wednesday evening (August 17) from 6 - 8.30. >> The NSW Stem Cell Network together with Victor Chang Cardiac Research >> Institute and Garvan Institute of Medical Research is hosting a >> hypothetical debate about the use of stem cells. >> Special guests will be Prof. Rob Jansen - Sydney IVF >> Prof. Bernie Tuch - Prince of Wales >> Hospital >> Dr Paul Brock - Stem Cell Advocate >> To register for Sydney ring Danielle Fischer 0292958108 >> >> Melbourne is Thurs. Aug 18th from 6 - 8.30pm at The Victorian State >> Library. >> Special guests will be Prof. Martin Pera - Monash University >> Prof. Julian Savulescu - University of >> Oxford >> To register for Melbourne ring Sarah Chan 0383416245 >> >> I'm going to the Sydney debate and know that many of you will be behind >> me >> even though you can't attend. >> Warm Regards, >> Lee >> >> Peggy Willocks wrote: >> 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 >> >> >> >> --------------------------------- >> Do you Yahoo!? >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: >> mailto:[log in to unmask] >> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn >> Messenger 7.0 beta: Free worldwide PC to PC calls > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > > --------------------------------- > Do you Yahoo!? > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > Yahoo! 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