Home > Talk of East Texas > Archives > 2008 > August > 13 > Entry
Stem cells
For Rickey Turner and the Rev. Tom Roberson, the debate about stem cell treatment is personal.
Both have received adult stem cell treatments — not the more controversial embryonic stem cell treatment.
For Turner, a former Henderson police lieutenant, adult stem cell treatment helped him regain some movement in his body after a wreck that left him paralyzed. Roberson, pastor of Oakland Heights Baptist Church in Longview, received adult stem cell treatment in his second battle with cancer.
As they have found success in their treatments, the debate about stem cell treatment rages on across the country.
What are your thoughts about stem cell treatments?
Comments
By BGravely
August 15, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
This story mixes the subject and has obviously caused confusion amongst the readers. The stem cells used in both these patients are NOT embryonic. They are adult stem cells…some taken from umbilical cord blood and some from the pastor’s peripheral blood supply. Neither of these men received embryonic stem cells. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are simply immunologically immature adult stem cells. While the peripherally collected cells are fully mature adult stem cells. All the conversation about embryonic stem cells in the article and comments that follow have nothing to do with the stem cells featured in the article. Cord Blood stem cells have been used to treat more than 75 blood diseases such as leukemia and sickle cell anemia. In addition there is an active study being conducted at Duke Unv. where they are treating children with cerebral palsy. The future of the umbilical cord blood stem cell is bright and exciting. For more information refer to www.marrow.org and search “stem cells”.
By Wanda
August 14, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this
My grandson was left a quadraplegic after an automobile accident at 19 years old. I support stem cells treatment, and think it a shame there is a controvey over whether a person is allowed the possiblity of freedom of life, by disallowing this treatment. The controvesy over stem cells treatments would be resolved if the people making the decision were to suffer from a spinal cord injury that leaves them motionless. I say, get on with giving people there life back by allowing this treatment. It’s easy to put off issues if you’re not the one it affects.
By Darrell B
August 13, 2008 8:36 PM | Link to this
“Turner said he supports adult and embryonic stem cell treatment, as long as the eggs are not going to be used for fertilization and the woman providing the eggs agrees to the procedure.”
This man doesn’t know what an embryo is. We are not talking about eggs, we are talking about an embryo with a unique DNA not of the mother. He thinks it’s about unfertilized eggs.
By mjackson1957
August 13, 2008 7:32 PM | Link to this
YES they should pursue. You can give me ebryonic or adult stem cells for my illness. I just don’t like feeling this way.
Why are there no funerals for stillborns or aborted fetuses? How many crack babies have the people against adopted. Other countries are kicking our butt over stem cell research.
My answer is YES!!
By JDavis
August 13, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this
And on. I was paralyzed several years ago and still am waiting for a cure. There will never be a cure if we cannot eventually come to some resolution.
By JZipp
August 13, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this
And yet, the debate rages on:
Should scientists pursue embryonic stem cell research?