Stem-cell research offers real hope

To the editor:

As a disabled person with multiple sclerosis, recent statements made in the Southeast Missourian have puzzled me. The Missouri Stem Cell Initiative does not ask for taxpayer money. It protects existing privately funded research. Our children and grandchildren are not being asked to pay for anything as claimed by one comment. In fact, they are in far more danger of being overwhelmed by the skyrocketing medical costs of taking care of those with serious illness than they are from dollars currently spent on research.

Adult stem-cell research has been around for more than 50 years. Most experts say that while it is extremely valuable and should be continued, it simply doesn't offer the promise of embryonic stem-cell research. Case in point: Recently, researchers at Johns Hopkins were able to restore the ability to walk to a mouse that had a severed spinal cord, something not accomplished in more than 50 years of adult stem-cell research.

There is no moral high ground in allowing thousands to suffer horribly or perish because some lack the courage to explore new science. We are not talking about cloning sheep or selecting eye color of babies here. We are talking about the right to life of people with MS and other horrible diseases. I believe we, of all people, understand the value of life, for we struggle to keep ours every day. I find it hypocritical for those opposing this research try to play the right-to-life card.

MARY K. MEYER, Jackson