debutaunt.com

P.S.

BTW, I'm not saying not to continue with embryonic stem cell research. I just wish we could put as much effort into making people more aware of adult stem cell research. And the bone marrow donor list. The cure rates would probably go up if we had more people (and cord blood donations) on the list and if they had more funding to more quickly advance the research they already know works and even perfect it. e.g. gvhd issues for transplant patients. Or expanding their research on paralysis or Parkinson's.

I can't get in the middle of the hot topic embryo / fetus issue because I can see both sides of the picture there. Sometimes it's just not worth wasting your breath on an issue with such passionate sides. But when you have something that is working, why not subsidize that more and continue making progress there? Embryonic research is the big push button. Can't we emphasize my beloved adult stem cell research more?

Why put our money on research that is in babysteps when we have some legitimate and viable solutions with more discoveries every day? Sure. Keep on doing embryonic research. That's ok. It is kind of laughable to me because so far the research there has been fruitless. But don't push for the majority of funding into something that is so iffy. That's what I'm saying. Why put all your focus and effort and manhours on embryonic when Adult Stem Cell research is making real progress?

When I was trying to get people to sign up for the Thanks Mom Marrow Donor Drive registry, I called and emailed my pal Lance Armstrong's Foundation. They would not publicize it, email about it, nor would they post it on their site. I was told that they would tell the phone banks for people who called in to the foundation. Yeah. That's what people call about (NOT!)

When I tried to get my daughter's Catholic school to put fliers about our drive in the kids school folders (I even offered to do the work) I was told that I could leave them in the lobby of the school for those who were interested. Yeah. We signed up SIX people out of over 5,000. They were all really interested. *rolls eyes here.*

I'm sorry, but when you (e.g. Lance Armstrong) send me a zillion emails at the touch of a key, and testify to congress and preach and make your living talking about beating cancer and survivorship, and yet I never read anything on your site about the advances they make in cancer CURES with adult stem cells, well it just kind of... pisses me off. Same goes for the many cancer informational sites. No info. It's all about breast cancer and what a beast George Bush is (talk about a job I'd never want!)

The time is now. Get over the drama about the stem cell debate. Just take that word out of the equation. Even the National Marrow Donor Program won't even say the word *whispers* stem cells. They use the phrase "blood producing cells" in their literature.

Everyone hates disease. Especially cancer. As Lance says... we have a 9-11 every few days from those who die of cancer. Put some effort behind something that will make a difference. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE!! Just ask anyone who has survived a stem cell transplant. Like ME. My family. My Zoe. My friends. It has made a difference. At least I hope so.

I hate that I had friends die from cancer this year. I hate it. And I cry sometimes because I wonder if we had more emphasis on this type of research years ago would they have survived? Would it or could it have made a difference in any of their lives? It makes me so angry. And I wonder... if God spared me so that I could open my big mouth about this topic. So that I could change and inform the many people about the possibilities and the cures?

Please don't let me shout alone. I am shouting for Sarah, and Brenda, and Eric, and Clem, and Ashley, and Gayle, and Cookie, and Kadin, and Paula, and Joseph and all the many loved ones we lose every day.

Don't make me have to stage a boxing match with Michael J. Fox, ok?

Posted by debutaunt at June 21, 2007 06:29 PM