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| May 27, 2000Stem Cell TransplantI've been away mentally for awhile and physically, went too a wedding in Washington State. My dearest friend was getting married. Getting there was an experience!! Airlines definitely need disability awareness classes. The wedding was Great but the getting there was ridiculous. I'm still trying to have Plasma Exchange treatments Mayo Clinic - Mayo Clinic Study Finds New Treatment Option (this link is retired) and looking into a study for stem cell treatment. I've called John W. McDonald, MD PhD at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. They'll be getting back with me next week. The majority of MSers have heard of stem cell transplant, especially since Christopher Reeve RPF News has been making it public. Our Government officials seem to think that it shouldn't be continued because of possible (very slim) death! The death that occurred was an accident, plain and sample. Tragic that it happened but the risks were known and accepted. Ethics are another stumbling block. Are pregnant women going to be putting up their fetuses to the highest bidder? All these things can be controlled but our Government is trying to stop ALL human trials that are funded by them. I think it's all studies, Government founded or not. As I and many have said...If I feel that a PROVEN treatment would help, stop me from being a talking head it should be my choice to use that treatment. Legitimate REPUTABLE Researchers are heading these Studies. They're being stopped because Funding is being refused. Politicians are "Playing doctor" telling Real Doctors what's ok too study! I don't think that the MSers I've talked with have jumped into a treatment without knowing the risks and accepted those risks. To help these Politicians change their minds writing them U.S. Senate should give them incentive. (This IS an election year.) The only way to be sure that a treatment is safe and effective, is trial and Error with human subjects. A tragic example is when Studies were done with Thalidomide. That's the drug that deformed babies in the '50s. All their Studies were done with animal subjects only to find out later that the animals (mice I think) were immune too Thalidomide. The babies born to mice were fine but humans were being born with partial limbs or no limbs. From that terrible mistake Thalidomide is now being studied and used for Leprosy, certain cancers, AIDS and they're looking at MS. Thalidomide stops growth so newly diagnosed MS could be stopped in its tracks. The legacy of Thalidomide has slowed the usage. The FDA was/is being bombarded with protests from victims. Pregnancy is what MSers and anyone would have too give up. I don't know if that applies too Thalidomide being transferred in sperm. Embryo Stem Cell Transplant works. Strict monitoring of the harvesting is what's needed. Write your Senator, write Reeves Foundation Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation to find out how we can get this treatment approved for human trials. Mitoxantrone took 3 years, I hope this doesn't take as long!
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