This is a very long blog. I tried to only use what I thought was vital information. I tried to use terms and passages that a non clinical person would understand. This is very important..please pass it on to others.
What is it like, that time before life? The pure darkness, mother’s warm bath; I am cradled, as I never will be again. Fairyland. The garden of love is for me to own, to enjoy. Heaven. Enchantment. A miraculous star lit sky. The journey of two becoming one, from somewhere, love originates and arrives. Our God, the stars, the temperature, perfectly coordinated hormones, desire, needs, wants, it is all perfect, it is meant to be, it is intended; a pure miracle. I am encouraged and nourished and protected; growth, transformation, and then, seemingly suddenly, change; I am a fetus, a real live, full baby. Her body expels my completed form and I am chained to an unexpected, abrupt independence. It only takes a slice for separation. I let out a cry. Those around me are not settled unless they hear me cry. Where is the warm bath? Where is the cozy love? I was a fairy, wasn’t I? Now, I try to sleep to find that wonderland, my enchanted world. From this day forward I will learn how hard that is to find and hold and protect and covet it. I’ll try anything. I’ll do and say the craziest things, all for a bit of that contentment, a slice of heaven, a warm bath, mother’s cradle.
Or is it all just science?
An embryo stifled from experiencing total gestation is usually the result of in vitro fertilization, miscarriage or abortion. During IVF many eggs are artificially inseminated and the results are frozen. The unused eggs are kept frozen in a bank, used for scientific experiments or discarded.
Needless to say this is the reason why in vitro fertilization is against Catholic law. For the sole purpose as to have a family many eggs are fertilized and then discarded. I can’t really say that I disagree with the Church.
There are life's circumstances that change our morality, either temporarily or permanently. At times, it is understandable, even encouraged. When we step back, away from personal involvement things may look different. All I know is: Life is hard.
Stem cell research is sometimes done on live embryos. Embryos not plucked from the warm bath but from a freezer.
Stem cell research can continue on those fertilized eggs. Those cells called stem cells are that which all else stems. Bioethicist, Alexander Capron of the World Health Organization described a stem cell as, “the foundation of organisms, the stalk from which everything buds and branches.” Stem cells may be either embryonic or adult (somatic). These cells at initial development stage can be used to recreate dying cells in animals and humans. The potential for curing diseases is vast and wide. Catholic Law and pro-life activists are against this, even though those fertilized eggs are only days old. The belief is that life begins at conception. Using those eggs violates that belief.
The National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC) provided a simple outline of human development:
1. the developing organism is a zygote during the first week after fertilization,
2. the organism is an embryo during the 2nd – 8th weeks of development
3. the organism is a fetus from the 9th week of development until the time of birth.
A zygote could be created without implantation of the fertilized egg in a woman’s uterus. This is commonly done through Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) using in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures (please see below). The zygote is essentially a group of cells called a “blastocyst”. Embryonic stem cells are obtained from zygotes (blastocysts) or a fertilized egg within six to 12 days after fertilization
Being a nurse and a Catholic I find many controversial issues. Stem cell research is one of them. Umbilical cord blood cells are used for stem cell research too. Those stem cells are used for experimental treatments of a variety of diseases. There are many instances that they are helpful. There are no fertilized eggs played around with or discarded. BUT, the stem cells found in umbilical cord blood are not as advanced or fast or available as the blastocysts used in the other stem cell research.
What is an embryonic stem cell?
Embryonic stem cells come from the “inner cell mass” of a group of cells called a blastocyst. The blastocyst is an early stage of development known as the “zygote” that occurs within the first 4-6 days after fertilization. Once the “inner cell mass” or embryonic stem cells are removed from the blastocyst, the cells may be kept alive in a petri dish under specific laboratory conditions. Such cells are multi-potent meaning they may become any cell in the body.
What is an adult or somatic stem cell?
They are stem cells found in the tissue and organs of organisms that have the potential to become their tissue of origin. Essentially, adult or somatic stem cells are stem cells that will have a specific occupation within the organism, for example, embryonic stem cells that differentiate or become heart stem cells will form heart tissue. Such cells have the ability to replenish or maintain tissues that have a limited life span, such as skin and intestines. For example, the human intestine sheds and replaces 100 billion cells daily by dividing stem cells that generate replacements for the short-lived cells. Thus, adult or somatic stem cells are “differentiated” or specifically assigned to the creation or replenishing of cells in specific tissues or organs.
The NIH notes, “One important point to understand about adult stem cells is that there are a very small number of stem cells in each tissue. Stem cells are thought to reside in a specific area of each tissue where they may remain quiescent (non-dividing) for many years until they are activated by disease or tissue injury. The adult tissues reported to contain stem cells include brain, bone marrow, peripheral blood, blood vessels, skeletal muscle, skin and liver.”
To date, there is no proven technique to turn adult stem cells into any other cell other than their tissue of origin. For example, there is no proven method to turn blood stem cells into brain stem cells. On the other hand, embryonic stem cells have the ability to turn into any type of cell and therefore, have more potential scientific utility
All professionals, while integrity is usually a vast and swift participant in their successes, strive for excellence. Unfortunately scientists can be very competitive; altruistic behavior sometimes turns into greed and strife and questionable moral actions.
There are times I think the same thing about religious leaders. I want to believe that decisions are made due to deep rooted and real beliefs and to protect the integrity of the precious. Then there are times this is obviously not done. There lies my confusion.
Stem cell research supporters say that the Church should be more sensitive to the dying, the injured and the suffering. There are miraculous cures being done with stem cells. As a nurse I can understand how hard it must be for a scientist that has access to cures, potential, and miracles to be silenced, denied and at times personally persecuted.
somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT):
The nucleus of an unfertilized egg (oocyte) is removed in a laboratory and replaced by, for example, a donated somatic cell, such as a skin cell. The process results in a “fertilized” egg but not in an embryo to be implanted in a woman’s womb.
After five days, scientists remove the “inner cell mass” as they would to obtain embryonic stem cells as described above. The resulting stem cells can potentially develop into specialized cells under appropriate laboratory conditions. The cells could help scientists understand human biology and disease as well as serve an important role in drug testing. Because the nucleus would have the same genetic material of the somatic cell (ex: skin cell) donor, this technology could overcome the problems associated with rejection of foreign tissue that is not recognized by the recipient’s immune system.
Cloning is SCNT but with the intent of creating a fetus. Cloning is against civil law as well as Catholic law in most states.
One thought is that if stem cell research is funded and “allowed” then the next step may be cloning. Remember the clone of the lamb, “Dolly”. This is scary and freaky. It is easy to accept Catholic law and follow it when things feel out of hand, that guidance helps maintain some structure and release the stress of wondering and experimenting.
Shortly after delivering my first child by C-section, I was asked if I’d like my healthy, beautiful son’s umbilical cord blood stored and saved for the future. My mind raced and my first reaction was “of course I do”. I wanted to save any and every part of this miracle I helped create. The nurse or physician or company representative blurted out oodles of information, encouraged me to sign papers, and to pay a fee and then she said “for your child’s future, in case of illness or need”, “it is in experimental stages”b. Right then and there I stopped listening. My son was healthy and never going to need these blood particles that are used to save a life or alter a diagnosis. I refused the service. I thought it was just another attempt another company was trying to manipulate a mind altered by sinking hormones. I was sore and tired and felt like crying all the time. I wanted this woman to leave. I dismissed such fussiness. My son as so far is healthy as a horse. Thank God.
Stem cells most commonly are used for bone marrow transplants, and organ transplants. Using your own cells increases the success rate of the treatments. Almost 20 years later we know a lot more.
I think of this every time I throw something out that I’ve been saving for so long and finally get rid of it and then, seemingly the next day, really wish I had it since now I need it.
Most people I know have not stored their children’s cord blood.
Some people have and some have found to have the need for it’s use.
After a baby is born and the umbilical cord is cut, some blood remains in the blood vessels of the placenta and the portion of the umbilical cord that remains attached to it. After birth, the baby no longer needs this extra blood. This blood is called placental blood or umbilical cord blood: "cord blood" for short.
Cord blood contains all the normal elements of blood - red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. But it is also rich in hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells, similar to those found in bone marrow. This is why cord blood can be used for transplantation instead of bone marrow.
Cord blood is being used increasingly on an experimental basis as a source of stem cells, as an alternative to bone marrow. Most cord blood transplants have been done to treat diseases of the blood and immune system. It has also been used to restore the functional deficiencies of several genetic metabolic diseases. To date, more than 70 different diseases have been treated with cord blood transplants.
Scientists are investigating the possibility that stem cells in cord blood may be able to replace cells of other tissues such as nerve or heart cells. Whether cord blood can be used to treat other kinds of diseases will be learned from this research.
There are cord blood banks that store umbilical cord blood for public use. Sometimes it is hard finding a match for a sick individual. Ethnic backgrounds should match. This is also true regarding blood transplants but it is more readily available and easier to harvest.
I’m on a crusade to get information out to pregnant women who have no idea that cord blood can save lives.”
--Susan Jarvis-Orr, mother of Brandyn, cured of leukemia with a cord blood transplant
Eleven-year-old Brandyn Orr, is a survivor. His struggle began at age 2 when a persistent fever led to a blood test that would change his family’s life forever. Brandyn had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
Brandyn’s mother, Susan, was six months pregnant with her second son, Kaeyln, when Brandyn became ill. Fortunately, Brandyn’s doctor was aware that the new baby could bring a cure for Brandyn, and provide the miracle the family was praying for.
Susan soon learned that the newborn stem cells in Kaeyln’s cord blood might someday have the power to give Brandyn a healthy immune system. “I had never heard about cord blood banking before my son became ill,” said Susan. “If I had known about the procedure when I was pregnant with Brandyn there is no question that I would have saved his cord blood as well.”
After three agonizing years of chemotherapy, Brandyn’s leukemia went into remission. During that time, Susan gave birth to a third son, Devyn. Since becoming educated about the potential of newborn stem cells there was no doubt in Susan’s mind, that she would bank Devyn’s cord blood as well.
Brandyn has a relapse
Unfortunately, Brandyn’s battle with leukemia wasn’t over. On a family vacation in Florida, only six months after he completed chemotherapy, leukemia struck again. Weak and bruised, a six-year-old Brandyn complained to his parents about aches and pains.
“We took him to a clinic where they did a blood test and told us there was a 90% chance that he had relapsed,” said Susan. “We really had no idea what we were in for. What was to come became most challenging experience of our lives.”
Brandyn needed a stem cell transplant as soon as possible. His brother Kaeyln was not a match. Thankfully Devyn, who was only four months old, was a perfect match. “We were so glad we had saved Devyn’s cord blood. The doctors weren’t sure they could get enough bone marrow from a baby that young,” explained Susan. “Plus we didn’t want to put an infant through a painful procedure.”
Intense chemotherapy and radiation to his head and spine preceded
Brandyn’s cord blood transplant, which took place at University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona. “Brandyn was so brave during all the radiation and chemo,” said Susan. “He never fought the nurses, or the shots, or anything.”
Thankful for a matching sample
Looking back on the situation now, Susan remembers being especially grateful about having perfectly matched sibling stem cells available to Brandyn. “Eighty percent of the battle is having that match. Thank God I didn’t have to go through searching the donor registries,” said Susan. “I saw so many patients in the transplant ward who suffered through many more complications than Brandyn because they didn’t have matching stem cells from within their own family.”
It’s been five years since Brandyn had his transplant. With his illness far behind him, Brandyn is healthy and strong. Susan, now the mother of four sons, offers this advice to expectant parents. “Save the cord blood. If you don’t feel it is necessary to save it for your family, then donate it,” said Susan. “You can do something to help others—something that could save someone’s life.”
There are many other stories on the web site:
http://cordblood.com/cord_blood_banking_with_cbr/realpeople_realstories/index.asp#brytton
Because umbilical cord blood contains the same cells as bone marrow, researchers have found that it can be used to treat many life-threatening diseases such as leukemia, lymphomas and anemias. Research is also currently underway in using stem cells in the treatment of such conditions as breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, lupus and HIV, and in gene therapy to treat conditions such as diabetes. The stem cells are a perfect match for the newborn, and there is up to a 50% chance of a match for a biological sibling or the mother.
There is sometimes a charge to store private cord blood.
I think this is such an important topic and issue. I also think all the money we spend on flowers and stuffed teddy bears can be put to better use.
Don’t you?
(the internet is a great source of information and that is where I did my research)
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