Stem cell treatments help Janesville boy
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Brandon Meinke is held upright in an Easy Stand, a device that keeps him standing to strengthen his muscles for up to a half hour at a time at his Janesville home.
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Brandon Meinke strengthens his legs with a stationary cycle. His grandmother Sharon Vaughan and sister Taylor Bonczyk look on.
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Brandon Meinke stands tall and supports himself with his hands on his knees in the living room of his grandparent's home in Janesville. Brandon went to China in October for stem cell injections to improve his spinal muscular atrophy.
JANESVILLE — Gripping a small folding chair as he pushed himself up, 4-year-old Brandon Meinke flashed a smile.
Slightly hunched with his hands pushing on his thighs, Brandon stood with his feet flat on the floor, something he couldn’t do just months ago.
“If I move, I fall down,” said the blue-eyed boy.
But standing on his own is improvement and success for Brandon, who has spinal muscular atrophy. Brandon continues to improve since an October visit to China, where he received four stem cell injections and intense physical therapy.
The Janesville Gazette first wrote about Brandon and his family in September, when they were raising money for the $20,000 cost of treatment and travel. Seven weeks after their return, Brandon’s grandparents, who raise him in their Janesville home, said the trip was worth every penny.
“Absolutely,” said Sharon Vaughan, who went to China with Brandon and his other grandmother, Tina Pufahl.
Treatment
The genetic disease affects Brandon’s motor neurons. He is missing the gene that produces a protein to protect his nerves, leaving his nerves to deteriorate and die, causing paralysis, said Ron Martin, Brandon’s grandfather.
Before the trip, the muscle tone in Brandon’s legs was gone, so he couldn’t support himself, Martin said. He crawled or rode in a wheelchair.
At Qingdao Cheng Yang Peoples Hospital in Qingdao, China, Brandon received a stem cell injection into his spine every four days with physical therapy in between. It’s a procedure unavailable in the United States.
“You’ll see instant results, but it really takes eight to 12 weeks to really get the impact,” Vaughan said.
Injected stem cells—the cells Brandon received were from umbilical cord blood—migrate to the problem and program themselves to do whatever the body is missing, Martin said.
After Brandon’s second injection, he was able to pull himself up along the bed and walk around it, Vaughan said.
“He hadn’t done that in over a year, two years probably,” she said.
The treatment cost $20,000. The family raised enough money to cover the treatment and costs while in China, but they still are paying off more than $4,000 in airline tickets.
Brandon became a star while sightseeing. Chinese people were infatuated with his blond hair, and teen girls wanted pictures with him.
“He got really used to a lot of attention,” Vaughan said.
Progress
Just like any 4-year-old, Brandon makes up conversations between two of his superhero figures, he attends preschool and he looks forward to riding the new bicycle his grandpa had waiting when he got home from China.
“I’m going to do tricks,” he said of riding his bike.
Since returning from China, he can peddle a bike and do something he never could before—climb stairs. During therapy in Madison, Brandon pulled himself up, held on to railings with both hands and walked up a flight of stairs that were half the size of normal ones.
“He’s never, ever done that,” Vaughan said. “It shocked all of us because I’ve never seen him do it.”
Therapy is helping Brandon strengthen his leg muscles, knees, and ankles. If he tried to stand months ago, his heels would raise only an inch because of the atrophy of his muscles.
In China, Brandon got three hours of therapy a day, but the family’s insurance pays for only two half-hour sessions a week here. That’s leaving the family to do as much as they can on their own.
Martin plans to build some of his own therapy equipment, including a set of the 3-inch stairs.
Brandon stands daily in a device that stretches and strengthens his muscles, keeping his shoulders, hips and knees in a straight line, sometimes while doing electro stimulation, too.
A new family
Since the first newspaper story, the couple has fielded media calls and contacts from other families in similar situations nationwide.
Martin and Vaughan trade stories about parents they’ve talked to and joke about the “Waltons in China,” referring to the bonds they formed at the hospital with other families receiving the same treatment.
“I think they just wanted to know somebody that (went) over there and find out what happens. It’s not a scam,” she said.
When Brandon received his diagnoses, the family was told, “‘This is what it is, this is what’s going to happen, and basically that’s your only option, and you have to deal with it,” Martin said.
“I don’t think either one of us were willing to accept that,” he said.
Martin said it was unlike him to ask for financial help for the trip, but he knew it was beyond his means.
“If we’re helping other families in the process,” he said, “then I guess that’s a way of paying it back.”
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Nearly two years after her trip to China for stem cell injections, Brooke Barels continues to do well and maintain her improvements, her mother Vicki Barels said.
Brooke, 11, has glucose transporter deficiency (GLUT-1), a spontaneous gene mutation that leaves her with cerebral palsy-like symptoms and delayed brain development.
Brooke received six stem cell injections in March 2007 at Xiaoshan Hospital in Hangzhou, China. Before that, speech for Brooke was difficult and limited to strings of up to three words, and she could only walk with a walker.
Since the stem cell therapy, Brooke’s motor skills increased, she’s made cognitive improvements and she’s walking with a cane.
Words spill out without modeling, Vicki said.
“I would say at this point, we’re seeing somewhat of a plateau in her gain,” she said. “But I feel pretty lucky.”
“Looking back, I’m so glad we went,” she said.
Brooke is one of only 120 children worldwide with GLUT-1.
She continues intense therapy in and out of school. She’s also part of a study at Columbia University in New York City that’s following the development of children with GLUT-1.
“They’re really keeping a close follow on how they’re responding to different interventions,” Vicki said. “The goal is some kind of gene therapy success with them.
“She’s showing us that we made the right decision,” Vicki said.
Feb 12, 2009 at 5:21 a.m.
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I have a Question regarding Muscular Dystrophy?
My son is 8 yrs old and he is suffering from Muscular dystrophy. Now he is not able to walk. I wanted to know, like Brandon, can my son be lucky enough to get cure from this "stem Cell" treatment. since MD is heridetary deases I am scared to have another kid. Please reply as soon as possible. My sister delivered a baby Girl in December and have saved her Stem Cells for future. Please let me know if it will be helpfull. please please please reply as soon as possible. thanks
Feb 8, 2009 at 12:31 a.m.
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I was researching stem cell research and found this article about Brandon and was reading your blogs. I need to say this, when it comes to this topic, remember four things. 1. SIZE. A fetus is smaller than a newborn. Does that make large people more human than small people? 2. LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT. A 4 yr old is less developed than a 14 yr old. Does that make the 4 yr old less of a person? If self awareness and intelligence define us human being, that means that those who are more intelligent have the right to exploit those of less intelligence. Obviously, that is not true. 3. ENVIRONMENT. Does location have any bearing on who you are? Do you stop being yourself if you change locations? Clearly, changing locations does not stop us from being who we are, be it traveling from one city to another , or eight inches down the birth canal. 4. DEGREE OF DEPENDENCY. Does the ability to live independent of anyone or anything contribute to humanity? Is every person who depends on medicine for survival less human than those who are not? Some people believe that a pre-born baby becomes a human being when it is capable of surviving outside the mother's womb without artificial support. Yet, there are people who depend upon insulin, heart pacemaker, and diabetes medication and without these supportive measures, those people would not survive. This does not make them less human than us. A man named Scott Klusendorf said this and believe me, these babies need our protection.There has been little success from what I have found to support embryonic stem cell research while there have been success with adult stem cells or from the umbilical cord. Those stories need to be told to help stop the useless murder of babies. And for those who think that these "babies" are not good for anything. Go to Focusonthefamily.com and search for the snowflake foundation. This is about adoption for these "babies", which is wonderful!! Sometimes, you have to defend those who cannot fight for themselves and that is what we need to do to save these babies.
Dec 31, 2008 at 12:11 p.m.
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I would like to give props to the family for having the courage to provide their son with the medical attention that was so greatly needed. I do not claim to be into politics nor do I care who voted for what. What I do care an about is that there is research and ways to "fix" just about every biological problem that we can come across. Someone mentioned IVF earlier and the embryos "left over". I can tell you that I would not want my embryos donated to another woman so she could have a baby when I can't have any more. Are you kidding me? It is up to the family what they want done with their embryos and to be honest, I would rather they be used for research then be destroyed. Why destroy a living thing when we can learn from it?
One question that I would like to ask of you who are against taking a life for research: The movie Phenomenon brought up a very interesting situation. George was given the option to have his living brain used for research. This would mean that he would die, but the doctors would be able to find a way to cure the cancer that he had. He opted agains the surgery. While it would be a difficult decision, wouldn't you rather be the one to help possibly provide a cure for something then to just forget about the whole world and be selfish?
Dec 31, 2008 at 12:02 p.m.
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"Unless you are in our shoes you can not imagine the pain and fear of watching family members getting worse everyday." You're right, I don't know. I can sympathize, I can try to imagine the pain, but I don't know. I lost a child at 6 months in utero and unless you've experienced the same, you DON'T know the pain. I understand that. <p>
About the frozen embryos, you may not agree with it, I may not agree with it, but the reality is they exist. So when it comes down to killing them or allowing them to continue to live...I choose life. *sigh* This is such a difficult topic. If only science could come up with a way to harvest the stem cells without destroying a life in the process.
Dec 31, 2008 at 7:24 a.m.
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Two thoughts: 4 members of my family are in desperate need of this research right now. Unless you are in our shoes you can not imagine the pain and fear of watching family members getting worse everyday. Knowing that this research is getting close is our only hope. The idea that we have such incredible people at the UW working on this is amazing. The other thought is on those frozen embryos. I think it is absolutely horrible that those embryos are frozen in time. I think that is even worse than using them for research or aborting them. Its not right to keep them frozen between life and death.
Dec 31, 2008 at 1:15 a.m.
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Spikesmom and Shorty, I respectfully disagree with you. Reason being, "Snowflake" babies.
These babies are born through embryo adoption. The term "Snowflake" -- created by the first adoption agency to arrange embryo adoptions -- highlights the uniqueness of each embryo. The label can also be attributed to the fact that each of these children's lives started, well, frozen. "In America, there are about 2.1 million families suffering from infertility. Frozen embryos offer them hope."
Some people have taken their opposition to destroying embryos by "rescuing" them and demonstrating that they are "pre-born" children. And that is the crux of the current stem cell debate: Do we destroy potential lives to look for ways to save existing lives? Is a frozen embryo made of a few cells a life that society ought to protect?
Personally, I oppose any research and treatment that destroys human life. Period. But I've struggled with this to be honest. I know someone personally who could benefit from it. And hypothetically, what if he was MY brother, or he was MY child? The situation would be beyond heart-wrenching, but I came to the conclusion that I believe that first and foremost we need to ensure that our society's most vulnerable members are protected and defended at every stage of life -- no exceptions. I feel that if we were to open that door even just a little, it could take our society down a terrible path that we never thought possible back when we initially nugded the door ajar.
http://www.southeastchristian.org/_libra...
Dec 16, 2008 at 10:24 p.m.
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evansvillehousewife,
federal dollars are not needed to fund research for embryonic stem cells. private dollars by the millions are funding that futile work.
federal dollars by the millions ARE flowing into research for what is healing Brandon and other similar lines.
What would you prefer?
More dollars to help the Brandons's of the world?
Or more dollars pumped down a black hole, helping no-one?
Dec 16, 2008 at 2:24 a.m.
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Shouldn't pro-life people also be AGAINST invitro? If you can't create life through the means that the lord intended, aren't you going against God's plan?
If women want to sell UNFERTILIZED eggs, to further scientific research and perhaps, find cures that have plagued mankind for centuries, shouldn't we take that risk.
And there are nay sayers that spout off "they don't know if it will even amount to anything" Well, isn't that a fine way to live. Let's never take a chance on anything for fear it might not work.
The only problem I have, even if they discover a cure for, say, diabetes, with our current health care system, insurance probably won't cover it.
Dec 16, 2008 at 2:17 a.m.
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Hmm, Pro-choice does not equate pro-abortion, and it in no way makes him guilty of infanticide. It's hysterical statements like that that make people automatically disregard what you have to say. Calm down, and explain yourself in a manner that is respectful to the other person's point of view and you will get much farther.
I guess the reason why I am pro choice is because, I am a man, and would never have to make the choice whether or not I would want to have an abortion. I do, however, think it's wrong that if I got a woman pregnant, and I WANTED to have the kid, I would have no rights to stop her from having an abortion.
You see, pro-life people lose me in their argument for a number of reasons, but most notably, they are pro-life AND pro death penalty. It's funny, they care so much about the sanctity of life, unless that life commits a crime, then they feel it's up to them to judge. I'm not a theologian, but I do believe that the only person that can judge another soul is the lord. And if that's the case, keep your nose out of the choices the others make. The best you can you do, is pray for them to see the light, and if they don't, pray that god has mercy on them. But don't judge them, don't turn your back on them, for then you will be the one that is judged harshly
Dec 15, 2008 at 9:48 a.m.
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While I think the story of Brandon is inspiring, I have to also disagree with embryonic stem cell research. I believe that life begins at conception and that all those babies are being murdered when they use them for research. You and I were once an embryo and are now people. Where does the human sacrifice end?? When does a baby get the same rights as we do? I believe it should be at conception. It may be an inconvenience to you but you made the "choice" when you hopped in that bed and didn't use any birth control! Abotion is infanticide and I'm sorry but Obama supports abortion so that means he supports infanticide! He doesn't value life!!
Dec 15, 2008 at 9:20 a.m.
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First off this is wonderful news for Brandon and his family. That they are willing to go to the farthest reaches of medicine for their child and have such success is wonderful! Other studies and successes are happening here in the states at research facilities such as Duke where Joanne Kurtzberg is using auto cord blood for children with Cerebral Palsy. Search YouTube for Chloe Levin and her amazing story.
No doubt the continuing argument about embryonic cells continues. I would contend that Booch11's facts are accurate regardless of your political view. And perhaps Jerseya47 can explain some of the challenges they have faced on the bench with embryonic stem cells. It is an immortal cell. In fact their is a cell line that was originally harvest in the early '70s that is still producing live tissue. Being an immortal cell causes problems as that is the one characteristic shared with caner cells. Until scientisits can develop an "on/off" switch for these cells, an in-human application will be unlikely.
Finally, as noted by other posters, the Bush administration has not blocked embryonic stem cell research. The administration just isn't using my tax dollars to fund what I may believe is morally questionable. Wish they were following the same compass when approaching all of these bailouts.
Bottom line is that private industry will and should be the mechanism to develop this. If there is an opportunity it will be developed. I would point out that currently there are over 700 active clinical trials around the world studying Adult stem cells, yet none using embryonic. That should tell you something. In fact if you visit www.clinicaltrials.gov and search "cord blood stem cells" you'll see you get 131 returns. And that's just US based clinical trials.
In closing we can all do our part by a) becoming educated on the subject and then educating our neighbors about it. Some people are too lazy to learn and some just don't want to learn that their beliefs may be wrong. But unless you understand the science and the options, the issue will never be removed from the policitcal arena where it will certainly wither and die.
Dec 15, 2008 at 3:49 a.m.
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Booch-
Nope, nope nope. There ARE federally funded lines of embryonic stem cells- WHen Dr Jamie Thomson (a UW scientist who ended up on the cover of TIME) first isolated them, he used federal dollars.
When human Embryonic stem cell research got to the point where they culd be sustained in a lab, ony them did it gain attention and Bush limited federal funding to 19 EXISTING lines...meaning no more human embryonic lines could be created using federal dollars, but federal funding for research could continue
Those of you who piously claim that embryonic stem cells have never led to any discoveries have obviously not been around a lab lately.
If you want t read some FACTS on this matter, read the FAQ at wicell,org
And Brandon, WAY TO GO big guy!!!
Dec 15, 2008 at 1:50 a.m.
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I'm not so sure that the extra embryos are allowed to be destroyed. I think they are being kept frozen indefinitely actually. In fact, in the midst of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans there was a "rescue" mission to recover unwanted frozen embryos when the power was out.
Dec 14, 2008 at 11:59 p.m.
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booch11, at least you have calmed down and are making rational, non-political arguments in your last comment. At this point we may agree to disagree. The law should be changed, but if no scientific groups wish to pursue the research, then no research will be done. This should be enough to satisfy any objections.
Dec 14, 2008 at 11:15 p.m.
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Shorty... I totally agree with your statement. If a couple no longer needs the embryos and have signed off to let them be destroyed, why not give them the option of donating them instead.
Dec 14, 2008 at 10:30 p.m.
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janesvillean:
1. you said i attacked you and the president elect -- this is a forum -- i hardly think my words are an attack
2. you sound as if no dollars go to research embryonic stem cells -- no FEDERAL DOLLARS go towards it. hundreds of millions of private dollars are funding it right now.
3. despite all those funds, results from embryonic stem cells have been slim - scientists are moving away from embryonic stem cell research and towards adult stem cells, which have been the only kind to ever cure or help human patients, and the new iPS cells created through direct reprogramming.
4. Meanwhile, Wisconsin scientist James Thomson, considered the father of embryonic stem cell research for isolating the first embryonic stem cell in 1998, has merged his two companies and is focusing on adult stem cells and the iPS cells.
Thomson's team made headlines last year when he and a separate group of researchers from Japan were able to reprogram adult stem cells into an embryonic-like state.
The work with the induced pluripotent stem cells has been so exciting within the scientific community that some researchers suggest the use of embryonic stem cells may become obsolete. "I personally believe that the future is in the (adult skin) cells," Thomson said in September.
Wesley J. Smith, a leading bioethics author and attorney, said he sees the move as demonstrative of the change away from embryonic stem cells.
"I can't think of any more vivid example of the dramatic change in the scientific and political paradigms regarding stem cell research than James Thomson, the discoverer of human ESCs--moving away from embryonic stem cell field and into iPSCs," he said.
so, why do you want funding to continue for what is basically a dead issue?
Dec 14, 2008 at 10:12 p.m.
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I've often wondered if people who are against embryonic stem cell research are also against in-vitro fertilization. IVF creates many left over embryos which are usually destroyed. Why not use these embryos for research? Yes it destroys an embryo, but weren't they going to be destroyed anyway? I understand why people don't agree with creating an embryo simply for the sake of stem cell research, and even tho I support SCR, I am against this method. But I believe if there is a leftover embryo from IVF then it can be used for SCR. Is that not essentially the same thing as organ donation?
Dec 14, 2008 at 9:09 p.m.
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I am so happy for Brandon! We were all rooting for you to walk off the plane, you got close to it! Hopefully soon you can be running around like a 4 year old should be. I wish you all the best!
Dec 14, 2008 at 8:23 p.m.
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I'm not even going to get into the ethical side of this, but information is being passed around here suggesting that embryonic stem cells are no better, or even worse than adult stem cells. This couldn't be more false.
First of all, the quantity of adult stem cells available is extremely limited. They are extracted from adults in very small quantities, and we're not able to multiply them in a lab. Embryonic cells on the other hand can be multiplied in a lab. We're able to turn 30 cells into millions in a matter of months. This is important because large numbers are needed for treatment.
The second issue deals with the fact that embryonic cells are "pluripotent", meaning they're able to grow into ANY of the cell types of the body. Adult stem cells are already specialized, so they would need to be extracted from the specific part of the body that they are needed for. At this point, we haven't been successful at extracting all types of adult stem cells.
Last, and maybe most important, it looks like we'll be able to harvest embryonic stem cells WITHOUT killing the embryo.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/08/23/n...
Dec 14, 2008 at 6:48 p.m.
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I dont know hardly anything about this subject,but,I will say,I really hope this family makes it through! I cant even imaging the hardship! Good luck!
Dec 14, 2008 at 6:37 p.m.
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gina51, that depends on your interpretation. If you asked Obama you would of course get the response that he does not support infanticide, but the implications of the bill he supported would effectively be infanticide, so it's not really a lie, just a shade of grey.
janesvillean, I can't speak for Republicans (I don't consider myself one anyway), but the issue is not whether embryonic treatments work (which they don't yet), the issue is what must be sacrificed to perform research. To research adult or cord blood stem cell research, somebody gets some stomach cells taken, that's it. To research embryonic stem cells, you have to kill an embryo which to many people is considered murder. Even if I could develop a cure for Parkinsin's disease, would it bother you if it meant killing someone to get that cure? It's a reasonable enough ethical problem that I can't believe stopping federal funding is getting so much of a fuss.
My prayers for a speedy recovery for Brandon.
Dec 14, 2008 at 5:51 p.m.
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It is also a perpetuated lie that Obama supports infanticide.
Dec 14, 2008 at 5:50 p.m.
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booch11, it is not just "the left" that has a different point of view on the Bush administration restrictions. In fact, a 2007 poll showed that 57% of Republican voters supported embryonic stem cell research.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles...
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I wonder why it is you want to make this a left-right issue. Certainly you are the only one using political labels and emotional characterizations such as "the left shouts down these facts". Who is shouting? I am not the one using emotional language here. I simply want research to be funded, and in that I stand with a firm majority of Americans. You seem to be saying that you know in advance that research will not be fruitful, but without research the treatment described in this article would not have happened. Why do you stand in the way of research?
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Or are you simply defending the most unpopular President in recent history, who sided with a distinct minority of his own party in enacting this policy? I really wonder.
Dec 14, 2008 at 5:48 p.m.
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This is wonderful news for Brandon and his family!!! I'm so glad that the benfit that was done for him helped so much!!! Keep up the good work darling! You and your family are in our prayers!
Dec 14, 2008 at 5:43 p.m.
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This is just fabulous! Keep up the hard work Brandon and family! My child goes to school with this little boys sister and we have been praying for them while they have been going through this stressful time! God Bless and stay strong! :)
Dec 14, 2008 at 3:42 p.m.
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janesvillean:
amazing research and effective results have come from every source of stem cells except for embryonic. even in your quote, the key word used is IF.
no ifs involved in other areas - just results.
and, it's not as if research is not being done in the embryonic field.
our tax dollars are just not funding it.
research is completed day in and day out on lots of things that DO NOT REQUIRE FEDERAL FUNDING.
yet, the left shouts down those facts.
the brave kid and his family in this story are using umbilical cord stem cells for the amazing results they are achieving.
why is that?
also, how did i misspeak what i said about the president elect? i quoted from his website.
the left has used the argument that President Bush has disallowed funding on ALL types of stem cell research.
it's simply not true.
yet, that lie has been repeated several times in this forum alone.
why do YOU believe such a falsehood?
Dec 14, 2008 at 3:06 p.m.
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Don't know why there's discussion here about the UAW, but I would say that management and the famously top-heavy organization of GM has a bit to do with their failure. Why isn't this byzantine structure of times past the problem? No, it has to be the little guy's fault.
Dec 14, 2008 at 2:10 p.m.
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I would like to see more of that $700 Million go to research for this than a UAW worker who can not take a pay cut to save his/her job.
Dec 14, 2008 at 1:32 p.m.
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toosch11, I merely stated facts, but you felt it necessary to attack not only President-elect Obama but a fellow poster, myself.
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According to the National Institutes of Health:
"If scientists can reliably direct the differentiation of embryonic stem cells into specific cell types, they may be able to use the resulting, differentiated cells to treat certain diseases at some point in the future. Diseases that might be treated by transplanting cells generated from human embryonic stem cells include Parkinson's disease, diabetes, traumatic spinal cord injury, Purkinje cell degeneration, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, heart disease, and vision and hearing loss."
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/bas...
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Bush's order may have permitted uses of stem cells where treatments have already been proven, but clearly limited even laboratory research into whether other treatments that may be possible could be developed, so I have not distorted any facts.
Dec 14, 2008 at 10:28 a.m.
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What a great story!! You get 'em Brandon! Hopefully under an enlightened administration for the first time in years, all stem cell research will be accelerated.
Dec 14, 2008 at 10:15 a.m.
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this article clearly states, "umbilical cord blood—migrate to the problem and program themselves to do whatever the body is missing."
UMBILICAL CORD stem cells.
janesvillean, in his/her typical misinformed way, accuses Bush of whatever backwoods thinking he has taken on this matter, and points to Obama's web site, which says the following:
"EMBRYONIC stem cells can be obtained from a number of sources, including in vitro fertilization. At this very moment, there are over 400,000 embryos being stored in over 400 facilities throughout the United States. The majority of these are reserved for infertile couples. However, many of these embryos will go unused, destined for permanent storage in a freezer or disposal. We should expand and accelerate research using these embryos, just as we should continue to explore the viability of adult stem cell use and cord blood use."
obama used the same misinformation campaign the left always uses -- make some crap up and keep stating it like it's a fact.
too bad really.
this amazing tool called the internet allows people to do actual research on their own.
but, too often, like lemmings to the sea, they simply follow.
Dec 14, 2008 at 10:09 a.m.
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pablo is correct. i'll add, president bush only blocked 'federal' funding for embryonic stem cell research (the only stem cell research that has show little positive results).
the free market has, is and will be free to research whatever it wants.
he never blocked funding for any OTHER kind of stem cell research.
amazing how misinformed people really are.
amazing.
Dec 14, 2008 at 9:50 a.m.
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It is absolutely appalling that people are so misinformed as to Stem Cell Treatment. Pres Bush did not block all stem cell treatment, just blocked funding for Embryonic stem cells. People really need to get informed on the such important issues as this. I am very glad that this is working out for Brandon and his family
Dec 14, 2008 at 9:27 a.m.
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Once again, people are either unaware or willingly ignorant of the difference between adult stem cell treatment and embryonic stem cell treatment. Adult stem cells are named so because they come from an already grown person, often from the stomach (in Brandon's case they came from umbilical cord blood). Whenever you hear about sucessful treatments like Brandon's, it's from adult stem cells. The other type is embryonic stem cells, which are named because they are taken from a developing embryo and usually end up killing the embryo in the process. Embryonic stem cells have yet to produce any fruitfull results. Although even if it could someday produce sucessfull treatments it's still at the expense of murdering another life. President Bush, or anybody for that matter, did not try to hinder any stem cell research, but only EMBRYONIC stem cell research because of the ethical implications. Also note that he didn't even outlaw this research, he simply prevented federal taxes from funding such research, thats it. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see Bush go, but don't start blaming him for things he didn't even do.
Dec 14, 2008 at 9:16 a.m.
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Bush has fought the program since day one. Bush lovers think he is doing the right thing. However there are thousands maybe millions of people who could benefit from stem cell therapy. UW in Madison has made great strides despite Bush and Bush lovers condemning it and tying there hands in research.
Dec 14, 2008 at 9:15 a.m.
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WHAT a miracle! Medicine can achieve the Miracles that God is providing to us, have FAITH, & HOPE.
Dec 14, 2008 at 8:46 a.m.
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My thoughts and prayers go out to Brandon and his family. Hopefully Bush will read this article or have someone read it to him. He needs to not only see where he was wrong but also to understand the ramifications of his ignorance.
Dec 14, 2008 at 8:41 a.m.
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Wow! Good luck Brandon. It is a shame that you had to go all the way to China to get this treatment, but you can bet that it would cost ten times as much if it were offered in the US.
Dec 14, 2008 at 6:21 a.m.
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Bush did not ban stem cell research using cord blood.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/...
Furthermore, Obama has no problem with the use of stem cells harvested from ANY source. Why would he? After all, based on his voting record, he has shown he has no problem with infanticide. In light of that, what would be his objection to obtaining stem cells from embryo's or aborted fetuses for that matter?
Dec 14, 2008 at 1:27 a.m.
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Way to go, Brandon and his family!! I think this is fantastic news and offers hope for millions of others with neuro problems. Brandon, your smile is infectious and has made my day. My blessings and best Christmas wishes to this family. Also, thank you to the Gazette for this beautiful update.
Dec 14, 2008 at 12:55 a.m.
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Brandon, Sharon, and Ron.......
this is fabulous! I was previously a neighbor of yours and visited one of your rummage sales. I am so happy to hear that things are working well. You have always been so positive. I remember when I was talking to you in your front yard, Sharon, you said your goal was for Brandon to walk off that plane. Well, not quite...but because you are positive, he is seeing great results. I'm sure this is all wonderfully exciting for him as well. Keep up the great work and the willingness to help others. God Bless you all!
Dec 14, 2008 at 12:37 a.m.
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It is just astonishing that we live in a day and age when this is possible.
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President-elect Obama, as Senator, supported stem-cell research, and is likely to reverse the Bush ban.
http://obama.senate.gov/speech/060717-st...
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