Debate Rages Over Stem Cell Research

Several years ago, I was involved in an on the job injury. I was denied benefits bt my employer and the workers compsystem. Only after having run the gaunlet of the court system was i able to receive medical care and that was 2 years after the initial injury. During those 2 painful years without medical care, my body developed several acute nerve disorders. I had originally contracted necrotizing fascitis, a flesheating bacteria. I have 4 doctors now, all of whom I see each week. Everyone of them has told me that my life expectancy all depends on the quickness and availability of stem cell research without which I more than likely won't make it anothe ten years. Why not give some of our politicians some of the physical disorders that might be curable with a little modern research and see they have a different view. or better yet, ask some of us who need a small glimmer of hope. our state seems to always fall short when it comes to making its' citizens a priority.

warrior101 wrote:

Several years ago, I was involved in an on the job injury. I was denied benefits bt my employer and the workers compsystem. Only after having run the gaunlet of the court system was i able to receive medical care and that was 2 years after the initial injury. During those 2 painful years without medical care, my body developed several acute nerve disorders. I had originally contracted necrotizing fascitis, a flesheating bacteria. I have 4 doctors now, all of whom I see each week. Everyone of them has told me that my life expectancy all depends on the quickness and availability of stem cell research without which I more than likely won't make it anothe ten years. Why not give some of our politicians some of the physical disorders that might be curable with a little modern research and see they have a different view. or better yet, ask some of us who need a small glimmer of hope. our state seems to always fall short when it comes to making its' citizens a priority.

Absolutey right-
Thankfully Governor Henry is a progressive man, who cares about the citizens of his state. Rather then to fall to lies, he has stood up and made the decision to do the right thing!!!
WE have great researchers in this state, and I hope for your sake and the lives of many that you will be saved from you misery, certainy from losing your life.
I agree that if some of these legislators had to deal with the "real" thing, they might change their tune. But I am sure you wish, along with me that no one ever has to suffer again!!
I wish you the best, I hope that one day soon you will recieve the best news that there is a cure, and you will get your stem cell treatment and your suffing will be gone- My thoughts are with your family, I am sure they hurt for you everyday also. We shouldn't forget that when one of us hurts we are all affected in some way. I am sorry for your suffering. I

I just don't understand it. It's not pro-life when the living mean nothing at all. It's pro-embryo. and they're not even embryos at this stage, they're blastocysts and maybe even zygotes really. You wouldn't be able to know it different than a puddle of spit walking up to the local Walmart door.(Why do people do that?) In any case, most people are under the mistaken idea that women are going to be selling fertilized eggs for this purpose. Or that eggs will be fertilized expressly for research. They are discussing fertilized eggs that are going to be destroyed anyway. To utilize them is better than destroying them. They are destroyed ALL THE TIME. Where is everyone then when that happens?

My twins' lives began in the lab at the same fertility clinic in Oklahoma City. My precious babies WERE the very embryos that some would equate to a "puddle of spit". But given time, nutrients, and a chance, they grew... they grew into the children that I know and love today.

They had another sibling who was implanted, but sadly did not survive through the pregnancy. The fact that I did not get to hold that baby did not make it any less human.

Should we kill our very smallest and most helpless in order to maybe, possibly, improve the lives of those who have lived longer? Should we limit it to our unborn? After all, young infants may have organs and tissues that other people could use, and they are not really contributing members of society.

No. The ailments that many seek to "cure" through embryonic stem cell research are bad, indeed, but the answer does not lie in the atrocity of human sacrifice - no matter how small or seemingly insignificant the human may be. An embryo, given time, sustenance, and a fighting chance, IS A PERSON!!!

Each and every one of them is a person. I mourn the loss of my other child, lost just weeks beyond the age of the babies you would destroy. I understand the hope for cures, as I have family living with Diabetes, MS, etc., but I would never EVER consider sacrificing one life to potentially improve another.

Twinmom wrote:

My twins' lives began in the lab at the same fertility clinic in Oklahoma City. My precious babies WERE the very embryos that some would equate to a "puddle of spit". But given time, nutrients, and a chance, they grew... they grew into the children that I know and love today.
They had another sibling who was implanted, but sadly did not survive through the pregnancy. The fact that I did not get to hold that baby did not make it any less human.
Should we kill our very smallest and most helpless in order to maybe, possibly, improve the lives of those who have lived longer? Should we limit it to our unborn? After all, young infants may have organs and tissues that other people could use, and they are not really contributing members of society.
No. The ailments that many seek to "cure" through embryonic stem cell research are bad, indeed, but the answer does not lie in the atrocity of human sacrifice - no matter how small or seemingly insignificant the human may be. An embryo, given time, sustenance, and a fighting chance, IS A PERSON!!!
Each and every one of them is a person. I mourn the loss of my other child, lost just weeks beyond the age of the babies you would destroy. I understand the hope for cures, as I have family living with Diabetes, MS, etc., but I would never EVER consider sacrificing one life to potentially improve another.

So, twinmom, let me make sure i understand you correctly. You are all for throwing them in the trash though, right?

Absolutely not. I support embryo adoption.

Destroying frozen embryos is no different than abortion - it is the destruction of a human being. If someone chooses to create human life, be it inside the womb or in the lab, they should be committed to giving those children every chance to grow and thrive.

Parents who go through in vitro fertilization, in my opinion, should be willing to adopt out any remaining frozen embryos to another infertile couple or they should commit to only fertilizing the number of eggs they fully intend to implant. That's not the way most clinics operate, but in my opinion, that is how they should.

Embryos are babies - they are not tissue, they are not garbage. They lack only sustenance, a few months of time, and a fighting chance in order to receive a birth certificate and full protection under the law.

Maybe, in a few more years, the little boy who survived Hurricane Katrina as a frozen embryo and went on to be born will have an opinion on whether his life was expendable in deferance to another. Maybe he will be able to speak out for the other children whose lives were cut short in the name of research. Maybe someday, the world will realize these are precious lives, and they have as much value as any one of us.

FACT: Therapeutic cloning produces stem cells, not babies. With therapeutic cloning , there is no fertilization of the egg by sperm, no implantation in the uterus and no pregnancy. Dr. Harold Varmus, the former head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a Nobel laureate, says there is a profound distinction between cloning with the intent of making a human being and research cloning to help understand and treat life-threatening diseases and conditions. Implantation into a womb is the clear, bright line that divides reproductive and non-reproductive technologies. Without implantation, no new human life is possible. This is where society can and must draw the line, according to the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research.

Twinmom wrote:

Absolutely not. I support embryo adoption.
Destroying frozen embryos is no different than abortion - it is the destruction of a human being. If someone chooses to create human life, be it inside the womb or in the lab, they should be committed to giving those children every chance to grow and thrive.
Parents who go through in vitro fertilization, in my opinion, should be willing to adopt out any remaining frozen embryos to another infertile couple or they should commit to only fertilizing the number of eggs they fully intend to implant. That's not the way most clinics operate, but in my opinion, that is how they should.
Embryos are babies - they are not tissue, they are not garbage. They lack only sustenance, a few months of time, and a fighting chance in order to receive a birth certificate and full protection under the law.
Maybe, in a few more years, the little boy who survived Hurricane Katrina as a frozen embryo and went on to be born will have an opinion on whether his life was expendable in deferance to another. Maybe he will be able to speak out for the other children whose lives were cut short in the name of research. Maybe someday, the world will realize these are precious lives, and they have as much value as any one of us.

Adopt a freaking embryo? How about adopting children who are not setting in saucers waiting to be fertilized and then implanted into someone who wants to breast feed to feel like a real mother? Let's adopt the ones who are already born and waiting for a home and not a womb! This is all about ego and nothing to do with wanting to become a parent. To think I use to think MaDonna was a nut and then I find people like you.

Twinmom wrote:

... I would never EVER consider sacrificing one life to potentially improve another.

So you are a vegetarian, right?

Twinmom wrote:

Absolutely not. I support embryo adoption.
Destroying frozen embryos is no different than abortion - it is the destruction of a human being. If someone chooses to create human life, be it inside the womb or in the lab, they should be committed to giving those children every chance to grow and thrive.
Parents who go through in vitro fertilization, in my opinion, should be willing to adopt out any remaining frozen embryos to another infertile couple or they should commit to only fertilizing the number of eggs they fully intend to implant. That's not the way most clinics operate, but in my opinion, that is how they should.
Embryos are babies - they are not tissue, they are not garbage. They lack only sustenance, a few months of time, and a fighting chance in order to receive a birth certificate and full protection under the law.
Maybe, in a few more years, the little boy who survived Hurricane Katrina as a frozen embryo and went on to be born will have an opinion on whether his life was expendable in deferance to another. Maybe he will be able to speak out for the other children whose lives were cut short in the name of research. Maybe someday, the world will realize these are precious lives, and they have as much value as any one of us.

So if one of your childrens lives depended on this type of treatment you would say no and let your child die. You are stronger then the me. I have seen too many children and other peoples lives lost who might could have been saved by this research. I am currently in a situation with a family memeber where there is little hope of survival. They are doing stem cell research in this area and it has show great possiblities for life saving treatment. I don't think my loved one will make it to see this happen but I hope for others they will make progress. To me it's not any different then organ transplants or blood transfusions and other body transfer treatments they do today. Our bodys are just vessels that our souls didn't have before we came to this Earth and our souls won't need them when we pass.

I'm with you, Twinmom. My husband & I too have a beautiful daughter from ivf at Integris. We had 2 leftover frozen embryos and chose to give them a chance but they did not survive the thaw process. While they were frozen, we debated the options the hospital offered. We could NEVER trash them or have them destroyed in research. Why can't we just use the ADULT stem cells for research and leave these embryos alone?

Touchy touchy subject. I have to agee with Twinmom. I was sitting here thinking, "throw them away"? I hadn't thot about embryo adoption. That is amazing. And yes jewel, adopt those that are out there too. I am one of the lucky adopted ones. I just wish there was a solution to ALL of this. I know where this thread is going. Lets all try to remain the adults we are and agree to disagree.

Twinmom wrote:

My twins' lives began in the lab at the same fertility clinic in Oklahoma City. My precious babies WERE the very embryos that some would equate to a "puddle of spit". But given time, nutrients, and a chance, they grew... they grew into the children that I know and love today.
They had another sibling who was implanted, but sadly did not survive through the pregnancy. The fact that I did not get to hold that baby did not make it any less human.
Should we kill our very smallest and most helpless in order to maybe, possibly, improve the lives of those who have lived longer? Should we limit it to our unborn? After all, young infants may have organs and tissues that other people could use, and they are not really contributing members of society.
No. The ailments that many seek to "cure" through embryonic stem cell research are bad, indeed, but the answer does not lie in the atrocity of human sacrifice - no matter how small or seemingly insignificant the human may be. An embryo, given time, sustenance, and a fighting chance, IS A PERSON!!!
Each and every one of them is a person. I mourn the loss of my other child, lost just weeks beyond the age of the babies you would destroy. I understand the hope for cures, as I have family living with Diabetes, MS, etc., but I would never EVER consider sacrificing one life to potentially improve another.

I guess next time I'm having relations I'll spit. I mean that could be a baby.

If we listened to SUV moms like the ones posting here throughout history, we would still be living in caves. We are talking about saving lives here, to prevent that type of research is the same as killing human beings yourself. I am not sure I would want to leave my children or even their children in their care with that kind of attitude, you might take them to a faith healer instead of a hospital or something.

I can't help but believe that life begins at conception and that whether you throw the embryos away or use them for research, you are destroying a life.

And I don't even drive an SUV...

Of course our Governor-elect Brogdon is hijacking the issue and directing the limelight onto himself in today's grandstanding exhibition. I wonder what issue he'll highlight tomorrow - contaminated pistachios, Somalian pirates, or some other useless crap that doesn't really matter to REAL Oklahomans. Ole' Randy will do anything for some face time!

Do you realize that the research behind IVF was done on embryos? So you were able to take advantage of that research to have your babies. Let others have that advantage as well.

We will never know whether adult stem cells are better or worse than embryonic stem cells unless the research is done.

It could be that adult stem cells are as good or better than embryonic stem cells. Let the scientist do the work to find out.

I have a science background and I wonder if the age of adult cells may impact long term success. We will never know unless we can compare the technologies.

Thank goodness the President will allow federal funds for this research. For those who find it immoral to pay for this research I have a deal for you. YOur taxes can pay for the wars and my taxes will pay for embryonic stem cell research.

So some people think that it's ok to use science and manipulate embryos so people can reproduce but not for other medical purposes. Also if people would adopt already existing children that need homes and stop producing these frozen embryos for their own egos sake there wouldn't even be this discussion. I say it's for your ego sake because that would be the only reason to go to the expense and trouble of reproducing this way when as I said there are already so many children needing homes. Isn't this going against nature and God by creating life that otherwise would not exist, sort of the opposite of abortion. It just seems a bit hypocritical to me.

Reid wrote:

So some people think that it's ok to use science and manipulate embryos so people can reproduce but not for other medical purposes. Also if people would adopt already existing children that need homes and stop producing these frozen embryos for their own egos sake there wouldn't even be this discussion. I say it's for your ego sake because that would be the only reason to go to the expense and trouble of reproducing this way when as I said there are already so many children needing homes. Isn't this going against nature and God by creating life that otherwise would not exist, sort of the opposite of abortion. It just seems a bit hypocritical to me.

Excellent train of thought.