Risk vs. hope: Heading overseas for stem cells

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – David Aldrich, 49, was paralyzed in a boating accident more than four years ago, and had made his wishes known. If he were hospitalized again and in a near-death situation, he did not want to be resuscitated.

He thought there was no hope he would walk again.

But with his family’s prodding and financial backing, the former licensed boat captain from Florida traveled to China, where doctors are treating people with spinal cord injuries and other conditions with stem cells obtained from umbilical cord blood. Out-of-pocket costs are high – $20,000 to $25,000 on average. Continue Reading »

A ‘Miracle’ In Tennessee

A ‘Miracle’ In Tennessee: Charlene Caswell Transforms Herself From Quadriplegic to Hiker, With Help from The Hartford

Walking away from a seemingly permanent Disability requires tenacity, excellent care and a talented, committed insurance team

HARTFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Charlene Caswell’s life changed abruptly on a snowy day last February after the truck in which she was riding flipped over, fracturing her Cervical spine and injuring her spinal cord. Continue Reading »

Despite his terrible injury, he still rides the wave of life

Among the many stories of human courage and achievement, Jesse Billauer’s might be one of the most inspirational.

Born in California in 1979, Billauer became a star athlete at an early age. He excelled in baseball, soccer and floor hockey; that is, until he discovered surfing. He became so passionate about it that by the time he was 11, he was already surfing competitively. By the mid-90′s, Surfer magazine had named him “One of the Top 100 up-and-coming surfers of the world”. Continue Reading »

Pro Stem Cell Research | Pro-Cure Wristband

If you are pro stem cell research, wear the PRO-CURE Wristband to show support for stem cell research funding and policy. Give hope to millions suffering from diseases and injuries. Portions of proceeds benefit APDA and JDRF.

Out of harm’s way

Teens learned a vital lesson during Spinal Cord Inury Awareness Week.

The idea was to educate teens about the dangers of accidents that can lead to paralyzing injuries.

Message received, said Western High School student Ali Bruns.

”People get in rushes and they don’t put seat belts on,” the 16-year-old Davie girl said. “When I am around people, I will definitely make sure they are wearing their seat belt.” Continue Reading »

The Nieshoff System

Quadriplegic doctor treats patients with empathy at Novi rehab institute

Life for James Rudolph of Howell changed in a flash when a motorcycle crash in 2003 injured his spinal cord.

Damage to the bundle of nerves that control his body movements left Rudolph, now 25, paralyzed — and stunned by the challenge of facing life in a wheelchair.

But he has a doctor with rare empathy. Dr. Edward Nieshoff has a spinal cord injury, too. Continue Reading »

Hope for a cure found in embryonic stem cell research

Michael J. Fox‘s successful acting career might soon be upstaged by his success as a lobbyist – his stumping for stem cell research in last month’s election turned the tide in favor of the controversial legislation in several states across America.

Fox, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, is putting hope for a cure in medical research using embryonic stem cells.

But the issue is laden in debate. Continue Reading »

Democrats plan to revive embryonic stem cell bill that Bush vetoed

WASHINGTON — The same embryonic stem cell bill that prompted President Bush’s only veto is headed to his desk again, this time from Democrats who have it atop their agenda when they take control of Congress in January.

It’s uncertain whether supporters of the measure can muster enough votes to override another veto. Continue Reading »

Democrats eye rebirth of vetoed stem cell bill

WASHINGTON — The same embryonic stem cell bill that prompted President Bush’s only veto is headed to his desk again, this time from Democrats who have it atop their agenda when they take control of Congress in January.

It’s uncertain whether supporters of the measure can muster enough votes to override another veto.

The bill, which would expand federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, is supported by a majority of Americans as a way to speed the search for possible cures for dozens of diseases. It is staunchly opposed by Bush and others who liken the process to abortion since it requires the destruction of human embryos. Continue Reading »

Celling a Strategy

Opposition to embryo-destroying research is not a losing issue. At least it shouldn’t be.

“How can you side with those people?”

In 2002, a paralyzed research advocate who actively supports embryonic-stem-cell and human-cloning research asked me this question. By “those” people she meant Christians, conservatives, and pro-life groups. Continue Reading »