I tried to get in the Stem Cell Transplants they are doing at Northwestern in Chicago when they first started doing it. On that first study of 100 people, 48 were significantly better and went off all meds(full remission) ,50 were better enough to lower there meds significantly and 2 died but the people they want for the study have to be pretty sick and had tried all conventional treatments and failed. I had heard about it on the news and started calling. They said I wasn't sick enough. Darn! LOL I wanted the quick fix! Anyways, they said "hang on Cheryl, we're trying to get his researched to the point where it will be standard treatment for all us Lupus sufferers! I believe they will! They are also curing Diabetes, other auto immunes etc. :) Cheryl

I just read online that Obama plans on useing his executive powers to reverse Bush administration policies on stem cell research.

a cure would be wonderful, but I only support the stem cell research that doesn't involve killing babies. that type hasn't been helpful anyways!

Excuse me???

"that doesn't involve killing babies. that type hasn't been helpful anyways!"


Where did you get the info that these stem cells weren't "helpful"? Stems cells are stem cells. I haven't seen a single medical study that says that stems cells from aborted fetuses were less useful than stem cells that have been taken from umbilical cords or filtered from blood. The majority of stem cells, BTW do NOT come from abortions. They come from cell lines that are propagated in the lab; i.e., grown from original cells that may come from anywhere.

For your edification, abortions are---according to the laws in the US---legal and even in your parlance the persons "killing the babies" are NOT the scientists working with stem cells, but the mothers. Do you think ANY of these mothers decides to have an abortion to generate stem cells? I suspect NOT. You may not approve of abortion, but does that mean that the stem cells that would otherwise be THROWN AWAY shouldn't be used? Should we throw away something that could be medically important to gravely ill people because the mothers did something you don't approve of???

Talk to me when you've had this disease longer, my dear, and you become more desperate. You are on Plaquenil and hate the side effects. I, however, don't have the ability to just "stop" my drugs because I'm not happy with the side effects. I NEED my meds to live. My major organ involvement means that I have been on EVERY lupus treatment available and some that were experimental such as monoclonal antibody infusions. I have had lupus (diagnosed) longer than you have been alive. It's lovely to sit on your high horse and decide that valuable cells should be thrown in the garbage because how they came about is against your beliefs. But when you are desperate for a stem cell transfusion because it's that or death, let's see how picky you are concerning where the cells came from. Would you rather die than accept the use of something that is medical waste? Because after an abortion, that's what it is. The baby you feel for has long been DEAD by this point. To save your life, does it really matter WHERE the stem cells originated from??

Btw, my brother needed a bone marrow transplant 4 years ago. He could have used a stem cell transplant instead. But there were no matches and there were no stem cells available and I watched him on the brink of death with platelets UNDER 1000 (normal is 140,000 - 400,000). He was 38 at the time with a wife and two small boys. Let me see, should we use stem cells or let him die? Gee, that's a hard one....

And what saved him? A special sera made from horses! For those of you are are PETA fans (much like the anti-abortion folks), let's see how your ethics stand when a close member of YOUR family is going to die without use of something gained through animal research and death or stem cells.

BTW, I hate abortion, but I defend the right of women to have them because I defend the laws of our country. But waste not want not. And I was an animal rescuer before I got sick. I hate the use of animals for research when it is UNNECESSARY. But there are times when it IS necessary. And if I have to choose between my life and that of a rabbit, you all know what I'll choose.

Ethics are lovely, but you need to consider the consequences of your beliefs and the demands that go with them. You want to stop abortion and the use of those stem cells that come from it??? Then please make sure to refuse a stem cell transplant when you are on your death bed and it's that or death.

As you age, you'll find that your ethics will change too. Real life has a way of rearing its ugly head and changing the way you think. But at 21 you haven't had enough life experience to understand that. My daughter is 21 and she always thinks she knows more than I do. Well guess what? She doesn't. And she learns over and over again that she doesn't.

This is not an anti-abortion list so please keep your agendas at home. I think it's fair to say that everyone on this list wants a cure for lupus. And cures usually come with a cost.....

Tracy

This discussion has certainly put my "foggy grey cells" to work this morning! I trust I can articulate well enough to make sense to you all. Thanks Jewels for initiating, and Cheryl and Amy too. Allie your opinion is very valuable as the voice of youth is important...and you are our future. To Tracy, your zest for life, tremendous love of your family, your unending quest for answers and your willingness to share a gift....but sometimes, a strongly worded one! As for me, well, these days I try to tread lightly on the earth. I believe science is an incredible, exciting and constantly evolving tool for humanity, but where humanity is involved so to are ethics and morality (which are intensely personal). Unfortunately, many other nations do not share the same ethics and morals as others. This can lead to exploitation of those in compromised situations and therefore become a global issue. I believe a persons body is theirs to do as they will with (without harm to others). Personally, I will not cling to life when it is no longer tenable, however I will accept treatment that is palatable with my beliefs and accept others will do the same. I too, have had subtle shifts in my thinking, with age and also illness. I once believed in life at all cost, but when someone I loved very much, begged me to help end their suffering (after many agressive and new treatments for cancer), I found myself torn. I could not do it of course, but I wish she had the resources and support of the law to do as she wished herself. Well, thats all from me....I wish you all, love, light and peace

i just had stem cell surgery and my lupus is in the late stages. i was diagnosed a few short days ago and they started me on chemo right away. i had my transplant, they used my own stem cells, i forget what type of transplant they call it. anyway, i'm doing okay, i'm still in the hospital but my days are easier than they were before the surgery. i did end up with pleurisy after the surgery was through but i didn't have to wait for a donor match. my son also needs a stem cell transplant but they can't do the self one for him and i'm not a match for him, nor am i healthy enough to donate to him, and it kills me. they decided to use cord blood on him. he started his first rounds of chemo this morning.

oh and for the most part i agree with TracyMynhier except on the fact that "at 21 you haven't had enough life experience to understand that." i'm 16 and i understand perfectly well that life is hard and things change your attitude and the way you think. i've been through hell and back so please don't lump us all in a category and say that i'm too young to understand.