|
About a month ago, I woke in the night with extreme pain, like my knee was on fire. “Arthritis”, the doctor said, and prescribed therapy.
So far, the exercises have increased the discomfort, and allowed the therapist to make sarcastic comments. “You are weak in the knees,” the therapist said. Weak? I am not weak, I told her, I used to do full squats with 455 for a triple, full squats, hips touching heels. I was an Olympic-style competitive weightlifter, I told her. She was not convinced.
“Weak, weak, weak!” she explained.
The pain becomes so interesting sometimes that I learn different ways to move.
Getting up from the floor looks like a camel rising, one awkward joint at a time.
Driving has become a challenge. To shift my left foot, I use my hand to lift my knee: instead of the boring old-fashioned way, picking up my foot with leg muscle like everybody else. Getting out of a chair is not quite so appealing as it once was.
And I am starting to look sideways at the elevator. Normally the stairs are an opportunity for free exercise, but now going up flights of stairs is one foot-lift at a time—right foot lifts and pushes, left leg follows like a non-contributory passenger.
I still don’t know for sure if it is arthritis, or even what to do is if it is. In Kaiser, you have to know what to ask for, and I am just learning—um, could I have an X-ray? How about acupuncture? Really? Cool. (I think—not entirely sure about all those needles…)
I bought some glop called capsaicisin, which apparently you have to wash off your fingers very thoroughly. Also, you probably do not want to rub your eyes after handling the stuff, even if you think you washed appropriately.
All in all, I would have to say, the arthritis (if such it is) is not a close personal friend: close, yes, and definitely personal, but not overly friendly.
For example, yesterday Roman, my son the commissioner, was a judge at the Fremont parade.
Because there was no wheelchair ramp to the platform, he had to be lifted first, set down on the edge with his legs dangling-- and then the power chair had to also be lifted—and then him again.
In the past, I could rely on my strength. But now?
I had to be helped up on the stage by two people myself.
We got the job done, but only with the help of two muscular policemen. Fortunately, Fremont’s finest were able to take the time and give a lift to a citizen, which we appreciated.
Is this how it is going to be? Am I going to have continual pain—for always?
Arthritis, it turns out, is chronic. There is no cure, except perhaps stem cells.
Which brings us, of course, to the 50 states. (Was that a smooth transition, or what?)
Where does your state stand on stem cell research?
Constance McKee, co-executive director (with Amy Daly) of Americans for Cures Foundation, is very smart about computers and websites and other such magics. Also computer-savvy is our newest member of Americans for Cures, Spandan Chakramurti, but he has the advantage of extreme youth, barely into his third decade—why is everyone so young nowadays?
Anyway, they and a professional person, Myles Kurland (hope I spelled his name right) have figured out how to set up an electronic map for the states, with colors showing various stages of stem cell support. (Interestingly, the first interactive state map was invented, I believe, by Bill Hoffman, the man who made the World Stem Cell Map. Google Bill Hoffman and World Stem Cell Map and check it out.)
But first, of course, we have to know the states’ situations. No computer program is worth the paper it isn’t printed on, unless the information it contains is accurate.
So that’s my part of the job, the background info.
I do have a nice fat stem cell “book”, state by state in alphabetical order, in which I try to gather such facts, based on phone calls and emails to fellow advocates. (Note: if you are a pro-stem-cell advocate in any state, and we have not met, I definitely would like to know you—drop me a line care of this column, please? Tell me your background and what you like to do to help advance stem cell research?)
Plus, super workers like Kimberly Love of CAMR and Patrick Kelly of BIO have invested hundreds of hours compiling up to date information. I always check with their work on anything like this; it’s excellent.
So based on that, and the efforts of other friends I forgot to credit, here is what I have.
Would you mind looking for your state here, and see what I missed? Also, if you spot an error, would you please let me know?
Thanks!
Don
P.S. JULY 16TH IS THE LAST HEARING FOR SENATE BILL 1565—ANYWAY YOU CAN JOIN US IN SACRAMENTO TO HELP US DEFEAT THAT DISASTER? (If so, please let me know ASAP—this is the quietest threat the California stem cell program has ever faced, and perhaps the most deadly. Email stemcellbattles@aol.com.
FIFTY STATES AND WHERE THEY STAND: Coded by number
1. Funding ESC 2. States where nothing is happening, no Personhood Threat, also no good ESC legislation 3. States where Personhood Threats were attempted but struck down 4. States where ESC is funded but under threat (like California) 5. States with no ESC, AND a Personhood threat like Colorado 6. States with other threats to research, bills prohibiting ESCR or SCNT States where we don’t’ know
Alabama--6 Alaska--7 Arizona--6 Arkansas--5 California—1,3,4 Colorado--5 Connecticut--1 Delaware—5,6 Florida—2,6 Georgia—5,6 Hawaii--2 Idaho--2 Illinois—1,6 Indiana—5,6 Iowa—2,6 (possibly a 1, I read that they are opening a collegebuilding for ESCR--?) Kansas—3,5,6 Kentucky--5 Louisiana—5,6 Maine—2,5,6 Maryland—1,6 Massachusetts—1,6 Michigan—3,5,6 Minnesota—5,6 Mississippi—3,5,6 Missouri—3,6 Montana—3,5,6 Nebraska—2,3 Nevada--7 New Hampshire--2 New Jersey—1,6 New Mexico—2 (???—Richardson tried for $10 million for all sorts stem cell--?) New York—1,6 North Carolina—1 (??? There was a good funding bill under consideration…??) North Dakota—5,6 Ohio—5,6 Oklahoma—5,6 Oregon—5,6 Pennsylvania—5,6 Rhode Island—2,6 South Carolina—5,6 South Dakota—5,6 Tennessee--2 Texas--2 Utah—2,6 Vermont--7 Virginia—5,6 Washington--7 West Virginia--7 Wisconsin—1,6 Wyoming--6
|
|
STEM CELL BATTLES
|
