Here We Go…
By Vinny Distefano
We’re heading for the stretch now. Filming of the documentary will wrap in August. Editing and getting it on the air will follow soon thereafter. The 2nd International Symposium on Hyperbaric Oxygenation for Cerebral Palsy and the Brain Injured Child will be held July 25-28, 2001 in Boca Raton , Florida
Where We Stand
The Answer Is Out There.
I’m sure, if you watch the news, you’ve heard about the controversy over stem cell research. Everyone, not just the President, needs to learn the truth about this research and the huge potential future therapies. This will be part of our future, with or without the Presidential stamp of approval.
CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J.--(BW HealthWire)--April 11, 2001--Scientists at Anthrogenesis Corporation (AnthroGen®), a New Jersey biotechnology company, announce the discovery of a novel method to recover stem cells from post-natal placentas. This method allows the recovery of a type of stem cell that appears to have the same functions as a traditional multi-potent stem cell but with unique characteristics. These placental-derived stem cells can be harvested in significant quantities and have the ability to evolve into a number of important cell types and tissues in the body.
The discoveries were made by a team of AnthroGen scientists through a proprietary process of working with post-natal placentas to mobilize and recover a broad range of stem cells in large quantities, as well asstromal elements necessary for stem cell differentiation. Post-natal placentas recovered after the safe delivery of a healthy baby normally are usually disposed of as medical waste. AnthroGen's patent pending technology covers both the stem cells derived from the placenta, as well as the technology used to recover them.
The technology promises to provide a plentiful, standardized source of stem cells for researchers developing therapies for life-threatening diseases including Parkinson's Disease, stroke, spinal cord injury and an array of organ failure syndromes. These multi-potent stem cells, which retain the ability to turn into many important cell types and tissues in the body, are vital to the fields of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering because they may be capable of growing new mature tissues such as brain, heart muscle, liver, bone and cartilage. In addition, utilizing the placenta as a reservoir of stem cells will enable researchers to work with an available, reliable, standardized source that will help eliminate the variability among stem cells obtained from various sources, and improve the quality of clinical research…
Stem cells are the master cells for human development and were first isolated in 1998. Scientists believe that these cells could be critical to curing such devastating diseases and conditions as juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cancer, heart disease, spinal cord injury, ALS, and many others.” (Excerpt from HBOT Online).
The Future Is Coming
A Matter of Time…
Some day soon, I hope, it will be full steam ahead on this research. We all get so excited when Angie does the simplest things. Ronnie, Angie’s Dad told me this little gem. Don, Angie’s brother-in-law happened to lean a cold mug against Angie’s leg. When she felt the cold, she jerked it away. She normally keeps her left leg straight or will slowly straighten it when we bend it or rest it on a pillow. Angie eyes are so much more expressive now, too. I wish everyone could visit her and look into her eyes and see her there trying to emerge. She appears to be able to concentrate longer on being with you when you talk to her. Her pupils change focus more now. She does turn to look at you when you talk to her. I still talk to her the same way as I did before the accident. Sometimes just shooting the s- - t, sometimes trying to teach her something new. For some time we’ve been telling her to blink her eyes two times if she can hear us. I see her doing it more and more and not just when you ask her to. She must understand it’s a way to communicate with us. Her body posture has changed significantly since starting her treatments. Sometimes she is hard to pick up because she is so limp and relaxed. She still shows signs of “posturing”, the involuntary muscle contractions occurring in brain injuries, but this might be due to muscle memory now or what she perceives as her new “normal” resting position. She certainly does not seem to be uncomfortable when she’s “chillin’”. I tell her about all of the people praying for her and that we’re on God’s timetable now. Only He knows when she’ll be ready to join us again.
I’ve told her I need help with this web site, too. She has e-mails to return, columns to write and other people like her to talk to. When we worked together, I rarely had to ask her for help. She would always be there for me. If something was too heavy for her to help me lift, she would round up hotel staff and tell them to help me! She was always looking out for me, yelling at me if she thought I was doing something that could hurt me. So now, I just tell her to help me again…”Help me move your leg”…”Help me move your arm.” …”Come on, young lady, time to go to work. Help me straighten your fingers”. She will let you know when she’s had enough of a work out, or she just might go to sleep during it. I guess she figures I’ll leave her alone if she closes her eyes…not!
Pass it on and tell a friend to stop by. Thanx
