Angela Wiegers
Family members with Huntington’s disease
Huntington's disease causes uncontrolled movements, loss of intellectual thought, and emotional disturbance. HD is a genetic disease, passed from parent to child. Each child of an HD parent has a 50-50 chance of inheriting the disease or the gene that causes the disease. Huntington's disease has destroyed my family. Huntington's has killed many of my family members. I am not sure how far back this disease can be traced, but it has killed my uncle, cousins, my grandmother, my great grandfather and the list continues. My mom now has Huntington's disease. She went from being a funny, vibrant, caring, contributing citizen to a stranger over a period of years. This disease is a slow killer. It shuts down systems little by little. For my mom, it has taken away many of her motor skills, her ability to speak and think clearly, and now it will begin to shut down her other systems. She cannot do anything for herself. Her disease is progressive. There is no cure. The only hope that we have to save our families and others is stem cell research. How many more have to die before we do something? Help me save the ones I love.
Cyndi Starke
ALS
April 17, 2006, I was diagnosed with ALS. I am a 51 year-old wife, mother and "Hot Rod Granny." I am not ready to give up yet! What they tell me this disease is going to do to me, I am NOT ready for it! When I hear that this disease and many, many others could possibly be cured from Stem Cell Research, I can NOT for the life of me figure out why ANYONE would be against it.
Mary Creasy
Multiple Sclerosis
I was diagnosed in October of 2000 with multiple sclerosis. I was 40 years old. It was a day that forever changed my life. This illness attacks your central nervous system and you never know what to expect from day to day, month to month, or year to year. I have been hospitalized twice and have had several life threatening incidents. I have two children and I worry if MS will strike them sometime in their lives. Stem cell research offers the hope we are looking for.
Ashley Simmons
Type 1 Diabetes
My name is Ashley and I have been a diabetic for 22 years. I am only 23 years old and began giving myself insulin injections when I was only nine years old. I consider myself just as "normal" as the next person. I just have to live on a daily basis with a life altering disease. I have found that this disease in my life can only bring me lost limbs, heart failure, kidney failure and the list goes on. I worry about these results of having diabetes everyday. Even though I may not be perfectly healthy I do my best to take my injections everyday and on time, I do everything I can to eat healthy and to watch and test my blood sugar levels. My doctor gives me hope by saying I'll live for a long time. I just want more then anything to live without injections and sore fingers from testing so much. I hope stem cell research can reverse or prevent the outcomes of having diabetes for me and everyone who has diabetes. That’s why I support Stem Cell Research.
Gina Downey
Daughter has Juvenile Diabetes
My 13 year-old daughter Lisa is a great kid! She gets good grades in school and is a very talented violinist. She's pretty and funny and full of life! Lisa was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes at the tender age of 5. For years she has checked her blood sugar at least 4 times a day and taken insulin injections without complaint or ever saying "why me?" She watched as the other kids in class ate the birthday cupcakes that someone's mom brought. Lisa now uses an insulin pump which has made life for her a bit easier, but still is at risk of complications such as developing heart disease, eye disease, kidney disease, neuropathy and blindness along with infections and the possibility of losing limbs to amputation. LISA DESERVES A CURE and I will never give up! Please join me in supporting Stem Cell Research.
Angela Hunt
Son has Juvenile Diabetes
On June 30, 2006, I took my 4 1/2 year-old son, Ethan, to our family practitioner. I had noticed in the last month or so that he had been urinating more frequently and had been unable to quench his constant thirst. Our doctor informed us at that time that he had Type 1 diabetes and that we needed to immediately get to the hospital. We were admitted into Children’s Mercy hospital for four days. During that time, we were able to get Ethan's blood sugar levels to a manageable level. My husband and I also went through several classes to learn how to manage our son's new diagnosis. We learned that everything he eats must now be counted and measured, he must get his finger pricked 7 to 8 times a day to check his blood levels and he has to get an insulin shot every time he eats a meal. We also learned that there is no cure for this disease. Our 4 year-old will have this disease his whole life.
The ironic part to this whole story, is the day we finally got home from the hospital, I went to my mailbox to get my mail from the last four days and discovered a brochure from the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures. After our stressful four days in the hospital, I was so relieved to read about stem cell research and how someday it might be able to cure diabetes. This is the hope that we needed!
Shannon Combs
Daughter has Juvenile Diabetes
My daughter, Taylor, has Juvenile Diabetes. She uses an insulin pump and keeps a good tight control over her disease. It is difficult everyday, and she is beginning middle school next year and I am sure rougher times are sure to come. She is also profoundly deaf and wears a Cochlear Implant, she has nerve damage in her ears. I am a strong supporter of this initiative for these two reasons alone. Taylor is 11 years old and is a beautiful, active and an all-around great little girl. She does not deserve diabetes or deafness...we are committed to the Initiative in every way we can. From what I understand, not only could stem cell research potentially help to rid my daughter of her diabetes, but could help correct her nerve damage by the work of spinal cord/nerve damage research.
We hope that many others will find it in their hearts to understand what positive research this is and that we need to look beyond all the politics, and concentrate on the millions of Americans that will reap the benefits of the stem cell research! Thank you Missouri Cures! As a parent of a child in need, keep going strong so we will get answers to these dreadful impairments and diseases.
Rita Joan Gralike
Granddaughter has Cystic Fibrosis
I have the most beautiful granddaughter who at three months old was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. She is now eight, and she has had the benefit of wonderful doctors and dutiful parents to administer the many treatments and medication it takes just to keep her out of the hospital. The CF Foundation is SO close to discovering a gene therapy cure for her as well as all the other victims of this fatal disease.
Do the people who oppose this potential lifesaving measure have any idea how much it means to those of us who face daily the possibility of losing a sweet, innocent child (or any loved one) to count on the one thing that may make the difference between their living and their dying?
Randy Francin
Late wife had ALS
My dear wife Ann had Bulbar onset ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) for almost two years. Ann lost her ability to speak as well as eat and drink because the nerves in her tongue stopped telling the muscles what to do. This is a neuro-muscular disease for which there is still no cure. People with ALS lose control of their muscles in all parts of their body, leaving them paralyzed. The brain remains alert and there is no pain. Ann had a gastric feeding tube for the last month of her life, and she passed away at the age of 55 on February 14, 2005 (Valentine's Day). We need stem cell research to find a cure someday for this fatal disease. Ann's organs were donated to Washington University School of Medicine to further research, but stem cell research can possibly cure this and many other deadly diseases.
Rita Bennett
Son has Juvenile Diabetes and family member has ALS
My son was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at 6 years old. He is now 28. He has gone through a lot of pain and has been hospitalized several times with related incidents, most of them his own fault, but diabetes is a cruel disease for young people. I know it is not the worst disease he could have, but as his mother giving him that first shot was like stabbing him for me. He has other related problems from this disease and I believe that STEM CELL RESEARCH is the best thing this country could do for him and millions like him. Diabetes has been called the silent killer disease. My son is lucky to be able to lead a somewhat normal life, but it is also hard to see him struggle with the cost of the insulin, and testing supplies.
I have another family member who in the prime of his life was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was a high school coach and had 2 small children. He is now on 24-hour care and cannot talk or do anything for himself. He has not been able to see his children grow or go to any school functions and is just wasting away.
These are tragedies this country is facing. Stem Cell Research can prevent so many diseases that affect so many families in oh so many ways. God bless.
Kim Haller
She and her sister have MS
My name is Kim and I was diagnosed with MS in October 1996. One of my sisters was diagnosed 3 months before me the same year. I have three children, all boys, with the youngest being born earlier that same year, so it was a bittersweet year for me and my family. It has been an adjustment to say the least, but we are all coping and doing fine. So, ultimately, aside from the obvious reasons, my interest in stem cell research is three-fold as my sister, myself and my kids all need a reason to believe that there is hope for a cure some day.
I hope that people realize that stem cells can alter the future, in a good way.
Tammy Elizabeth Pettis
Mother of two sons with Fabry Disease
My husband and I have two boys (ages 10 and 11) who are afflicted by a rare genetic disorder called Fabry Disease. To date, there is only one FDA approved medication on the market and it was only recently approved. One of my children has taken well to the medication, while the other’s body is fighting it so severely that his only treatment for it has had to be suspended. Stem cell research could be the answer to finding a way to extend my 10 year old’s life and keep his organs from suffering so much damage that he requires a transplant -- or worse, dies from this disease. Please -- help the fight for this lifesaving method of medical research!! My child’s life could depend on it.
|
