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Joan - Rep. Lane Evans knows a spokesperson when he sees one! And this journalist, Francesca Jarosz, wrote so beautifully. Thank you for these words of encouragement. I hope the world gets to read this. You're the best of the best. Peg -----Original Message----- From: Joan Snyder [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 2:07 PM Subject: On Saturday afternoon, i had the honor of being asked by US Representative Lane Evans to not only speak at his annual Unity Dinner but to also participate in a press conference before the dinner. the following is from the Springfield newspaper: Evans: Government has obligation to stem cell research By FRANCESCA JAROSZ STAFF WRITER-THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER ONLINE-SPRINGFIELD, ILL Published Sunday, August 28, 2005 When Joan Blessington Snyder saw stem cells at a lab at Bradley University in Peoria, her internal debate about using them for research was settled. Snyder, a resident of Chillicothe, north of Peoria, is pro-life and Catholic. And for 16 years, she's lived with Parkinson's disease. "Looking into that microscope, I felt the presence of God," Snyder said. "He wasn't telling me I was wrong. He was saying, `Right on, right on.' I don't know what is more pro-life." Snyder, founder of Calipso, a Central Illinois Parkinson's advocacy group, and three U.S. representatives explained their support for embryonic stem cell research Saturday at a conference preceding an annual dinner for U.S. Rep. Lane Evans, D-Rock Island, at Springfield's Crowne Plaza Hotel. Evans, along with Democratic Reps. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston and Jim Langevin of Rhode Island, said the federal government needs to support use of such cells for medical research. "As a compassionate nation, we have a real moral obligation to realize the potential of stem cell research, which would extend and improve the quality of life for millions of people," Langevin said. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, which lifts restrictions on use of stem cells from excess embryos donated for in- vitro fertilization, passed Congress with bipartisan support in late May. Current policy allows federal funding for research using embryonic stem cells only if they were derived before Aug. 9, 2001. Langevin said he expects the Senate to vote on the legislation within the next two months. He said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's support of the legislation, which he announced late last month, is a positive sign. "I'm confident that we'll have a victory," Langevin said. Opponents, including many in the pro-life movement, say adult stem cells offer many of the same research and medical opportunities, without damaging human embryos. Schakowsky praised Gov. Rod Blagojevich for granting $10 million in state funding for stem cell research, including embryonic stem cells, in July. For both Langevin and Evans, the battle for stem cells is more than a political one. Evans has lived with Parkinson's disease for 10 years. Langevin has been a quadriplegic since he was 16 and involved in a police education program. A professional officer fired a gun that he didn't know was loaded, and the bullet ricocheted, went through Langevin's neck and damaged his spinal chord. "Because of stem cell research, we are one step closer and, I believe, very close, to curing spinal cord injuries," Langevin said from his wheelchair. Evans rose to spoke, leaning on a staff member for physical support. He said he's speaking for more than a million Americans who share his disease in order keep the issue of stem cell research alive. "We ought to continue to make sure it's left out there," Evans said. "We have a golden opportunity now." Francesca Jarosz can be reached through the Metro desk at 788-1519 or [log in to unmask] <http:[log in to unmask]&YY=44 890&order=down&sort=date&pos=0>. it was quite a thrill for me to be the only person who was not a representative or a senator to be seated at the speakers table and here is a copy of my speech: Lane Evans and I share a _profound _relationship. WHAT, one might ask, does a handsome, charismatic Congressman whose achievements include serving his country as a Marine, graduating from Georgetown Law School, serving 11 terms in Congress; who is used to the company of presidents, kings and political powerbrokers, have in common with an unheard of housewife and mom from Chillicothe, IL, an old hippie and a retired bartender who never finished _even_ junior college? The answer to this mystery is Parkinson's Disease. There is good news and there is bad news to report about Parkinson's Disease. The good news is that doesn't kill you. The bad news is that it doesn't kill you. Parkinson's Disease takes no prisoners and it doesn't care who or what you are. It is THE great leveler. It has held hostage Pope, evangelist, artist, the world's greatest, <pause> attorney general, actor, congressman and mere mortals such as myself. It is a robber disease. It comes like a thief in the night and steals away parts of your personality, your self assurance and your ability to do everyday tasks with ease. It shows no mercy. I find it to be extremely telling that people line up to endure a brain surgery called DBS during which they must be wide awake and conscious for the 8-10 hours that the procedure lasts. They allow doctors to insert wires into their brain and run those wires down the skull and attach them to implants in their chest so that they can be fine-tuned and electronically manipulate their symptoms. all of this rather than to continue to live with this _damn, debilitating_, disease. A hero is a person who has accomplished great things, has noble qualities, and shows exceptional courage. Lane Evans is that person. For a moment, I invite you into our world. Every morning, pain and stiffness awaken us. The pain does not dissipate eventually like a hangover, but becomes a dull, tedious thing that you wear always, like a heavy coat. More important tasks _then_ consume your energy.like walking, talking, eating-you know, ordinary stuff like that! You do them mostly by rote, knowing how stiff your gait will be and compensating for that by arriving early. You know how soft your voice will be at certain times of the day, so you plan your good times when the medicine is working to do your business.and you know that everyone is watching you: waiting for you to slop your soup or to drop something or to fall. They watch because they care but they cannot understand. My children become exasperated with me and say, "Just move your foot, Mom." I tell them that if I could do that then I wouldn't have Parkinson's Disease. Most PDers are over-achievers. This is certainly the case with Lane Evans. His desire to continue his work on behalf of the people of his district is overwhelming and the courage of his convictions lead him to run for public office when opponents take aim at his disease and declare him unfit to do the job.as /if his physical limitations were somehow tied to his mental abilities. /Every day of his life, Congressman Evans is put to the test: he must overcome not only the rigors of public life but to also surmount that nagging little voice that whispers to each one of with pd. IT WHISPERS; "you cannot change the world nor the course of my impact on your soul and your personality." "Here, stay inside and hide" IT WHISPERS. "It is better to be alone, let me have my way with you, don't try to do anything to defeat me, don't let anyone see what I can do to you." Now, there are people with Parkinson's Disease, who stand up to that little whisper. They do not let it take control of their lives; people with the bravery and leadership to grab this bull by the horns and demand that their voices be heard over the whispers of the _tyrant_ pd. Lane Evans is one of those people. I am proud to know Lane Evans. I am proud to be his friend. I am proud to know a man who each and every day of his life, lives the words spoken by Pope John XXIII: "Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do." I also would like to tell you that on Friday, September 2nd, i have the unprecedented opporutnity to take my congressman, US Representative Ray LaHood , who is a very devout. pro-life Catholic and is opposed to embroyonic stem cell research, on a tour of my friend, Dr. Craig Cady's stem cell research lab. it will be an opportunity to help change his mind about the need for embroyonic research. so please, help me out by sending me good thoughts on that day! Also on the 10th & 11th of September , we are in the final throes of planning for my 4th annual Shake, Rattle & Roll for Parkinson's Disease. There will be parkies coming in from all over the US & Canada & even one from England. I will report on the event soon. thank you. joan -- Joan Blessington Snyder 54/14 [log in to unmask] http://www.pwnkle.com/jes/jes_web/index.htm "Hang tough....no way through it but to do it." 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