Where am I going with this extremely, brief synopsis of the story of Genesis. I’m leaping ahead to the current debate on stem cell research. Let’s start with some of the most basic facts about stem cell research. Our scientists have brilliantly discovered that stem cells from the human body can reproduce themselves. This amazing phenomenon allows damaged cells the ability to repair and or regenerate into healthy cells, resulting in a cure of many of today’s diseases. Treatments are already occurring in people suffering from leukemia, aplastic anemia and a variety of other diseases.
When looking at stem cell research, it is important to note the three types of stem cell research that are currently on the debate table. Adult stem cells, umbilical cord stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells and umbilical cord stem cells are the only two that have shown any progress in treating and or curing an illness. Embryonic stem cells have neither cured nor treated any illness yet to date. May I repeat that again…embryonic stem cells have neither cured nor treated any illness yet to date. Scientists have not been able to control the regeneration of the embryonic stem cells without leading to rapid tumor growth.
What do we hear about in the variety of media that we are all bombarded with on a daily basis? Embryonic stem cell research. Most people don’t even know about adult stem cells, even fewer know about umbilical cord stem cells. The media floods the headlines and airwaves with possible, far reaching medical possibilities that embryonic stem cell research might one day provide the diseased or ailing patient.
Have any of you heard about the boy cured of aplastic anemia through the implantation of his sibling’s umbilical cord stem cells? Have any of you heard about the treatment of a 3 year old leukemia patient, who with the stem cells donated from her sister’s umbilical cord, has gained back her life? “Why?” is the question I want to scream at our media. Are they not supposed to report news? The medical breakthrough of a cure with adult stem cells or umbilical cord stems cells…is not news worthy but some possible future cure is news worthy? It’s quite a simple: ADULT STEM CELL CURES –YES, UMBILICAL STEM CELL CURES – YES, EMBRYONIC STEM CELL CURES – NO/NONE/NADA.
Where does the debate lie, or might I say, become clouded? Is it by the media that only reports hype and so often is irresponsible in their responsibility to convey a balanced perspective. Is it by a medical/scientific community that will use anything as a guinea pig, including the life of an embryo.
Back to Genesis. Hey guys, we talk about God providing for us as He did in the Garden of Eden. We constantly talk about and strive to trust in the provisions that He places in our lives. Well guess what…. He has again provided for us with these stem cells right in our own body. He has blessed the physical union of a mother and her child through the umbilical cord, in which he placed stem cell with the ability to cure or treat that child and or a sibling of that child. Why then do we pursue the one that is off limits, just like in the garden? Why does our world pursue the controversial one, the only one that involves taking a life? Did you ever wonder what our world would be like if Adam and Eve didn’t eat from “that” forbidden tree? We always say hindsight is 20/20. Now’s our chance… the snake is back to pay our society yet another visit, tempting our world with another apple from “that” forbidden tree, this time…let’s stomp him out. Do whatever you can to pass this information or anything like it along to anyone who will listen. Speak up and vote NO to any platform that includes embryonic stem cell research. We can never be wrong when speaking an absolute truth.
---the tirade of a stay at home mom---
Note: This was written by a Sister in Christ with a well-developed conscience. Thank you, Kathy, for so thoughtfully putting to paper God's Truth and inviting us all to live and vote reponsibly.
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