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Don, It is Idelle at SCAN, not me, who has not had a good day since 1978. She has MS and was writing about Christmas and New Years wishes to people who are not going to get well. In 1979 I had ovarian cancer so my last 27 years have not been so great either (11 with PD). You are certainly the longest surviving person with PD I know of and are an inspiration to all of us on this List. I don't believe stem cells are going to help me, but see no good reason why science should be stopped. I think someday they will help someone. Hoping to hear from you again next year. Ray. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don McKinley" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2006 9:27 AM Subject: Re: Wish from Idelle at SCAN > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "rayilynlee" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 11:28 AM > Subject: Wish from Idelle at SCAN > RAYILYNLEE I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO ANSWER U AS I SAID I WILL BE 83 PWP 39 > YEARS > I NEVER ASKED ANY 1 WHAT THEY BELIED U GOT 1 STEM CELL IT WONT HELP ME I > NEVER SAY THE MEDS I TAKE ALL I ASKED WS TO HAVE BELIE IN SOME TING THE > NEW > THING THAT IS HEADD FOR ME I WILL NEVER KNOW U SAY SINCE 1978 U NOT SAW A > GOOD DAY ME GOOD DAY IS TO SEE THE WORLD AGAIN ME I SAY HAVE HAVE THE BEST > OF THE YEAR U CAN LOT LAUGH AT ME OTHER SAY U SAY FUNEST THING AND THE > BEST. > ALL I CAN TELL U HOPE TO C U ON LINE NEXT YEAR AT THIS TIME GOOD OR BAD WE > A > LIVE SO TILL THEN IN JOY WHAT U LIVE GIVES (flash) > >> SCAN UPDATES: >> - We are putting the finishing touches on StemBlog, the site to network >> advocacy groups. We have already signed up eight organizations, and will >> begin a campaign to enlist many more partners. Go to www.stemblog.net and >> take a peek. Want to suggest a group to become part of the network? >> Contact >> me at [log in to unmask] with their web address. If you are part >> of >> such a group, please contact me to ask any questions. >> - We have received two excellent nominations for SCAN's "Advocacy >> Champions >> of 2006". Please send the names to me of other individuals who have >> tirelessly served our cause during the past year. >> - We will be sending out the names of members of the House of >> Representatives and a sample letter to target for HR 810. >> - Please include SCAN in your end-of-year list of donations. >> Thank you. >> >> December 29, 2006 >> Dear SCAN Members, >> We're all probably familiar with the dilemma of is it OK to say 'Merry >> Christmas' or should I be inclusive and just say 'Happy Holidays'?. Well, >> if >> you've figured out how you want to handle that one, don't relax just yet >> because I've got another one for you to chew on. Is it OK to wish me a >> "Happy and Healthy New Year" when I haven't had a healthy year since >> 1978, >> and don't think that the state of my health is going to dramatically >> improve >> in '07? >> The political correctness argument that is the source of the "Don't say >> "Christmas", say "Holidays" quarrel concerns the risk of seeming >> insensitive >> to differences when one communicates with someone, who, for example, is >> not >> a Christian. In a similar way, is it appropriate or considerate to wish >> me, >> or the millions of others with life-threatening diseases, a "Healthy New >> Year"? It's a lovely thought, but to smile and accept it graciously we >> are >> required to collude with either the outright denial of our condition or >> accept the vague idea that somehow, something magical might happen to >> make >> this wish come true. >> The truth is that I was pretty resigned to being a good sport and to keep >> quiet during all the years when there wasn't much hope of a treatment or >> cure in the cards. But now, when stem cell research has put many of the >> key >> puzzles of basic science on the working agenda instead of "for dreamers >> only" I find that passivity isn't so comfortable anymore. >> I do understand that the wish is well-intentioned, but as a non-Christian >> I >> often feel uneasy accepting Christmas wishes; as a person with multiple >> sclerosis, I appreciate the thought of a healthy year, but the wish feels >> hollow, misplaced. I'd prefer that the well-wishers think more carefully >> about what it's like to live with a serious illness, every day, and to >> have >> to stand by and watch while politicians make decisions that affects the >> funding and thus the time frame of treatments, even cures. >> So what's the better choice? >> - Instead of sending me a card, donate the cost and the postage to >> research. >> - Ask me how you can help. >> - Be informed about the laws in your state that support research or limit >> it. >> - Write letters to Congress when asked. >> - Get involved: exchange empty wishes for targeted advocacy. >> - Don't ask me to pretend that I'm just like you, when I'm not. >> And by the way, here is my number one wish for '07: >> I wish that everyone with an illness that could be helped by stem cell >> research finds a way to connect with the rest of the 100 million >> potential >> beneficiaries and that together we create a force to be reckoned with. >> Do you think this can be done? Let me know. >> Idelle Datlof >> Executive Director >> Stem Cell Action Network >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn