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NRL News
Survivors
Speak Out: Adult Stem Cells Save Lives As President Bush discussed his veto of an embryonic stem cell research bill and announced new initiatives to encourage ethical research June 20, he was joined by people saved by adult stem cell treatments. These survivors know firsthand that stem cells obtained without harming human beings can and do successfully treat many diseases. The veto was Bush’s second for an embryonic stem cell research bill sent to him by Congress. “If Congress really cares about patients instead of patents and pleasing lobbying groups,” survivor Carol Franz told NRL News, “it would focus on adult stem cell research. There is no reason to destroy life. No embryos had to die for me to get my life back again.” Franz suffered from multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer) when she received her first adult stem cell transplant in May 2003. The cancer attacked her bones so severely, they “looked like someone used them for target practice,” Franz said. Once chemotherapy destroyed her cancerous immune system, doctors at Syracuse Upstate Medical Hospital gave Franz cells obtained from her own blood. The cells traveled through her bloodstream into her bone marrow, establishing a new, cancer-free immune system. Franz remained free from the myeloma for three years. When one of her frequent blood tests showed signs that the cancer might be returning, she received another treatment with adult stem cells in 2006. Since the treatments, Franz said that she has been called to spread the truth about stem cells—that adult stem cells are saving thousands of lives right now and that human embryos do not have to die in order to advance medical science. As part of her mission, she spoke at the National Right to Life Convention and at other gatherings, has written many letters to newspapers, and started a web site, www.carolfranz.com. “The Lord allowed me to be an advocate and to speak up to help people save their lives with adult stem cells,” she said. Franz wears t-shirts that proclaim, “Adult Stem Cell Survivor,” and has given away many others that state, “Adult Stem Cells Saved My Friend’s Life.” “I’m bringing one of the shirts to the White House to give to President Bush,” she said. Bush invited Franz to stand next to him during his speech. “I’m also up here with Carol Franz; she has whipped cancer twice by using adult stem cells,” Bush said. “In other words, adult stem cells have saved her life. She’s a determined woman who believes strongly that there are different alternatives available to use stem cells other than those which are created as the result of destruction of human life.” Other adult stem cell survivors also attended the speech in the East Room of the White House, including Doug Rice. When doctors told him in November 2005 that he would die of congestive heart failure in three months, Rice decided to travel to Thailand for an adult stem cell transplant. In a procedure known as TheraVitae, blood is drawn from the patient, shipped to a laboratory in Israel and processed to obtain heart stem cells, and then sent back to Bangkok where the cells are injected back into the patient. The procedure is not yet available in the United States, although trials are currently underway. Despite the enormous cost and long plane ride, Rice made the trip in January 2006. Before the treatment, Rice’s ejection fraction—which measures how well the heart pumps blood—stood at 11% (the normal rate is over 50%). Three weeks after he received the heart stem cells, his ejection fraction increased to 28%, Rice told NRL News. The fraction is now 40%, and the cells continue to grow in his body. “I used to sleep sitting up and couldn’t walk more than 50 feet,” he said. “But now I walk all the time.” In addition, as the stem cells spread throughout his bloodstream, they have improved the function of other organs. “My diabetes is getting better,” Rice said. “My kidneys were in bad shape, but not anymore.” Rice’s experience with adult stem cells has also inspired him to act, traveling to speak to various groups and establishing a web site, www.douglastrice.org. He approaches the issue from a scientific basis. “Embryonic stem cells don’t work, have never worked, and may never work,” he said. “But adult stem cells work today. If I depended on embryonic stem cells, I’d be dead today.” Rice pointed to the hundreds of thousands of people around the world who have already been treated with adult stem cells. But because the media focuses so much on embryonic cells, many people who could be saved by adult cells are not even aware that such treatments are available. “I care about the over 500,000 people who die each year of heart failure,” Rice said. He lost his sister, who couldn’t afford to go all the way to Bangkok, and his mother to the disease. “We need to get people treated, and adult stem cells are what work.” |