Stem cell research offers hope

    One day there may be a miracle cure for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s and even the ability to repair spinal cord damage so the paralyzed can walk again.

    Sounds very impressive, but like any omelette, some eggs must be broken. In this case, those eggs are embryonic stem cells.

    The idea is that since embryonic stem cells have the ability to develop into any cell for any bodily component, they can be used to develop cures. They allow scientists to see how the cells form instead of having to reverse-engineer something from damaged cells.

    The cells may be nerve cells and help the disabled to walk. They may be brain cells out of which a cure for Alzheimer’s can be found. They may be anything, and that’s the beauty of them.
    The problem comes from people who insist that these cells are human beings and as such are eligible for the same right to life as the rest of us.

    The cells used for research are not going to become people. These cells from clinics and research labs would be destroyed. Instead of just throwing away these valuable cells, why not use them to help people and increase the quality of life for those living now?

    A person with an active lifestyle is involved in a disabling accident and is confined forever to a wheelchair or bed. The agony and pain he or she feels could be alleviated by stem cell research and he or she could walk again.

    Someone’s grandfather who was always sharp and could remember everything about his life suddenly begins to forget who his friends are, what day of the week it is, his family’s faces and even his own name. Watching someone fall into the grip of Alzheimer’s is maddening and sorrowful because the victim is so helpless. Stem cells could be the key to giving people their lives back.

    Genetic diseases (such as diabetes and heart disease) that have been with mankind forever could be eradicated over time through use of medicines that could come out of stem cell research.

    If the only way to get these advances were experimentation on living people, then the research and ethics would be very tricky. But why not put to good use cells destined for disposal?

    President Bush recently toed the political line about the stem cell controversy, saying that research could be conducted with federal money on the 67 “lines” currently in testing.

    Scientists want more, but are happy they got this much. Pro-life groups want no testing, but are happy with the compromise.

    Stem cells could be the future to a better, disease-free life for many people and the ability to enjoy old age without the fear of losing one’s mind or the fear of breast cancer for women or prostate cancer for men.

    Above all, stem cell research provides medical hope. It may allow accident victims such as Christopher Reeve to walk again or Parkinson’s sufferers such as Michael J. Fox or Janet Reno to continue leading more normal lives.