|
The Future of Medicine |
|
The Future of Medicine |
Education / Science
Provided below is a presentation Josh delivers as an educational tool for higher learning when he comes to stem cell research.
 |
|
"Over 128 million
Americans are prisoners of their own
bodies, locked and confined to a
lifestyle they never asked for. One
would think that by living in one of the
wealthiest countries in the world, which
sets an example for the word freedom,
we’d be doing everything in our power to
free innocent people sentenced to an
undeserved death penalty. But that’s not
the case. Whether your world comes to a
crashing halt when you break your neck
in a car accident, get shot, or get
diagnosed with cancer or diabetes, these
disorders affect the way you talk, walk,
think, feel and act. To say that it
sucks is a huge understatement. It
kills. “ Sabrina Cohen, stem cell
activist.
Every
person on earth has a personal stake in
the endless possibilities of stem cell
research.
It is up to us to free the
stem cells.
Warehoused in fertility
clinics throughout the world are embryos
that hold the potential for a cure for
heart disease, cancer, diabetes,
Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and countless
other diseases.
|
|
|
|
Before I get into details
about the superpowers that a stem cell
potentially holds I must first explain
where stem cells come from.
I must first explain what
in vitro fertilization is, it is when a
sperm and an egg unite outside the womb
in a laboratory.
After five days, the cell
develops into a blastocyst.
Scientists remove the
innermost cells of the blastocyst and
culture them in a Petri These cells keep
multiplying infinitively.
They have the capability to
self-renew over and over again.
The cells that have been
cultured and multiplying are known as a
stem cell line.
|
|
 |
|
If a certain growth
factor is added to any of the stem cell
lines, it can become any of the
220 different types of cells, tissues,
or organs in the human body.
The human body is made up
of cells.
Stems cells can be used repair or
replace these
damaged cells.
|
|
 |
|
Currently, stem cell
research is underfunded. Bush has only
allowed the National Institutes of
Health to put 25.5 million dollars into
researching embryonic stem cells.
NIH’s total budget for
research is $27 billion.
And yet the government is only
putting forth $25.5 million. This Is
1/1000th of their budget.
Even though stem cell research
holds the potential cure for the
majority of all diseases and injuries
that affect the United States and the
rest of the world.
This just does not make sense to
me and just this really pisses off my
little friend.
|
|
 |
|
The opponents to
Embryonic stem cell research are well
funded.
They are determined to
legislate against any government
funding.
They feel the blastocyst
is a human being and that any
extraction of cells from a blastocyst
constitutes murder.
Even though over 100
million suffering people could benefit
from this research, they state that it
is never permissible to “do evil, that
good may
come of it.”
They are against using
embryos for research, but have no
problem with simply disposing of embryos
with medical waste from fertility
clinics.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
There are many simple
things that you can do to help this
cause.
One simple thing is by
registering to vote and electing
representatives that will support
specific issues such as stem cell
research.
We can also write letters to our
legislators asking for their support of
certain bills to be passed such as the
Christopher Reeve paralysis act, which
focuses on getting government funding
for stem cell research.
If you would like to get involved
with stem cell advocacy. I’ve started
the University of Maryland Student
Society For Stem Cell Research.
This organization focuses on
getting out in the community, and
advocating for stem cell research.
It is up to us to spread the word about
the importance of stem cell research.
|
|
 |
|
| Each
statistic below replaces the previous statistic
through a customized animation. (10 slides)
1 million children with juvenile
diabetes.
1 million with Parkinson’s disease.
30,000 victims of Lou Gehrig's disease.
58 million people with heart disease.
8.2 million people with cancer.
10 million with osteoporosis.
43 million sufferers of arthritis.
4.5 million suffering from Alzheimer's
disease.
450,000 people paralyzed by spinal cord
injuries.
2.5 million people worldwide with
multiple sclerosis.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
In order to understand how
important your advocacy can be, you must
imagine how the world would change if stem
cell research gets funding.
Imagine that your grandfather
with Parkinson’s Disease can have stem cells
injected into his brain that will create the
dopamine that his brain cells can no longer
make.
Imagine that cells can be
injected into your friend with diabetes so
his body can create the insulin it so
desperately needs.
Minutes after your father has
a heart attack, heart cells are injected
into him to repair the damage done to his
heart.
Imagine me getting up out of
this chair and playing tennis again
because stem cells have replaced the damaged
cells in my spinal cord.
|
|
 |
|
| One of the things I learned because of my injury is the difference that I could make through the power of my voice. I decided to take charge of my future which will dictate my life and the lives of millions of other people. I’m asking you today to think about registering to vote, writing to your legislators, and creating Student Society For Stem Cell Research at your school. | |
 |
|
Remember, even the smallest
superheroes can make a difference
|
|
|
|
For more
information about Determined2heal, e-mail us at
Determined2heal@aol.com |
|
Disclaimer: This page contains observations and information from the personal experiences of Josh Basile. It is not intended as a substitute for the guidance and advice of trained medical professionals. Determined2Heal recommends that you always seek out guidance from healthcare professionals before partaking in any treatment. |
|
Determined2heal needs your help Donate Now
|
