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Your tribute to Nina Brown was well statred.She truly is an amazing person.

I think it was 1996 that I met NIna and her husband at a PAN FORUM.It was the first one for both of us.She had recently put together a fund raiser on very short notice,when she learned Mohammend Ali would be in Texas.It ,of course, was a big success..I was impressed then and I still am.She is indeed special.

Lorraine Jeffe

rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
The Best Possible Life - Nina Brown's Story:
Nina Brown's most important and heroic achievement in years of Parkinson's
disease advocacy was the result of being part of a small grassroots group
responsible for stopping the criminalization of embyronic stem cell research
in Texas. This petite, attractive grandmother, along with husband, Joe,
was active in defending science against religious ideology in Texas. They
took on opponents of embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) and gave us all a
victory in the war on science!!

Her belief that "circumstances determine our lives, but we shape our lives
by what we make of our circumstances" is not only her email signature, but
has been the hallmark of her actions since her diagnosis of PD in 1985 at
age 45 and her subsequent education of the general community about
Parkinson's Disease.

In 1997, Nina became active with the Parkinson's Action Network (PAN),
www.parkinsonsaction.org, a national organization whose primary objective is
to educate and advocate for funding for Parkinson's research. Today she is
a Texas State Coordinator for PAN.

In 2003, a PAN member saw Texas HB 1175 online and phoned Nina and Joe
Brown, asking them to look at the legislation. She and Joe have made
numerous trips from Houston to the state capitol to advocate against that
bill and other legislation which would have criminalized ESCR in Texas.
Nina has drawn upon all her inner reserves and spirit to educate and advance
the cause of all forms of stem cell research, including embryonic stem cell
research. The effort has proven to be so effective that no bill
criminalizing embryonic stem cell research has made it to either house of
the Texas legislature.

Because of this accomplishment and their activities at the national level,
Nina and Joe received the Milly Kondracke Award for Outstanding Advocacy by
PAN at the 2004 Morris Udall Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C.

Another important outcome of the Browns' advocacy efforts was the
establishment of Texans for Advancement of Medical Research (TAMR)
www.txamr.org. This organization, co-founded in 2003 by the Browns and a
few others is composed of scientists, physicians, ethicists, leading health
groups, and individuals who support biological research in regenerative
medicine.

"This group cuts across diseases as well as economic, religious and
political lines", Nina explains.

"Our purpose is to raise public awareness on the issues surrounding
regenerative biomedical research. We will continue to educate our public
officials in Texas and advocate for all those whose health depends on it.
Our organization is inclusive. It consists of Jews, Protestants, Catholics,
and all those who believe this is a health issue, not a religious issue."

To further that end, another group focusing on education rather than
advocacy, The Alliance for Medical Research, was established. Nina is
Secretary and a Founding Board Member. TAMR-ed has produced an outstanding
video "Regenerative Medicine - Pathways to Cures" (www.tamr-ed.org).
Nina appears in it and co-wrote this excellent explanation of IVF embryos
and SCNT.

Nina, a Vice President of the Houston Area Parkinson's Society (HAPS),
www.hapsonline.org just received their annual "Quality of Life" award
October 30, 2006 at a luncheon for over 350 people. This award is given to
a person with Parkinson's (PWP) who has made the most of their quality of
life while living with the challenges of PD. HAPS is dedicated to
improvement of quality of life for PWP and caregivers (CGs) with support and
therapy groups, transportation to physician visits, social services,
education, etc.

Opponents of embryonic stem cell research are not content to get out of the
way of science and refuse any treatments that might become available from
this research. Right now they are redoubling their efforts to thwart and
criminalize it, calling Michael J. Fox a "cannibal", an advocate in Missouri
a "babykiller, " and the rest of us "vampires".

Nina's contribution is one that far surpasses the quality of her own life;
it affects everyone in the world who suffers from hideous diseases or
ghastly disorders. The fight is far from over. We are so blessed to have
this truly pro-life champion on our side. Her magnificent spirit has
empowered me. I hope you feel it too.

Ray

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