Interesting article. Sounds hopeful but complex with room for error. Feel like I got COPD 10 years to soon.

Thanks Debbie

That sounds like a step in the right direction. Good find Deb

Great article Debbie and thanks for the link. It allowed me to read more and will be there for me to go back and check again. Did you just go on the transplant list?

I assume that this research and findings would work for lung as well as kidney. Had to look up the word "chimera" :))

If this research would make it possible to do a lung TX without immunosuppresive meds then that is a giant step. No, really huge and I would imagine that the prognosis for patients would increase also.

I checked into some of the other links provided and saw Interventional Pulmonology but that pertains mostly to Lung cancer.

I was searching for a "predicted" timeline of the research but I missed it. Does anyone know what this may be? Stem cell/research transplants are the answer.

I was kind of surprised that only 25% of siblings are actually donor possibilities.

I really found this interesting as I have a daughter with PKD that could eventually be a kidney receiptant.

Debbie, I think that you have been accepted at the or one of the finest medical groups in the world. This is definitely a plus.

Very interesting--yes, & scary too. Is this something that just happened for you recenly? How wonderful though!!

I have been on the list since last June. They do it different than in the past. They told me they used to do transplants on a first come first serve basis. Now it's more like a 2 step thing. I went up last june for 3 days of testing & go back every 6 months for 1 day of testing. At this point I have just straight up emphysema & it's a slow progressing kind. So even though I'm in the severe range, I'm still too healthy. Hoping to keep it that way until they get more stem cell research done. Now if I had a sudden downturn I'd be bumped up to the 'active list'. Hoping that doesn't happen. It's all very scary to me :>O

Wow Deb thats great... You are very brave. Looks like you have taken the right steps to set yourself up. I do not understand all this stem cell stuff but would love to learn in layman terms. Prying you won't need a transplant anytime soon!

Just a note to add what I read in the newspaper yesterday.

The governor of Texas, Rick Perry, had his own stored stem cells injected in his back for a treatment for a disk problem about 6 months ago. A lab in Houston performed it and now the FDA is involved because they say it should have been under clinical trials because it hasn't been approved by the FDA yet.

Apparently, whatever procedure is use to change the cells in the lab is what is in question. Guess that says that at least someone has stepped out and did this.

The Gov (or someone for him) paid around $20,000 for the treatment.

At least we now have someone that we may can track and see just how this does work. So far , he says great!!!!

I heard Susan Summers talk about her stem cell injected breasts reconstruction after cancer, and she is doing great.

I think stem cells are our greatest hope.

Good for you Kaput getting on the transplant list early on, it will make things easier when and if the time comes.

Another good conversation.

Thanks everyone,

Love Holly

Gov. Perry is some fine eye candy:>))

LOL, He used to be but being eye candy doesn't help him much.

That's what my Dr. thought & as long as I make my 6 month evaluations I'm in the loop without having to go through all that initial testing. At least the Cleveland Clinic has their own hotels & one of them is actually right in the main hospital. Very convenient:>))