Why Stem cell research should be allowed

This is why stem cell research, all of it, should be allowed.


The following story was taken from this women's blog at www.medsocial.com.

http://medsocial.com/blog.aspx?blogaction=viewblog&show=240


My name is Pat Daniels. I am writing to you in regard to my son Kevin. Kevin was a volunteer firefighter and EMT with the South Boston Fire Department when on the night of August 7, 1998 while responding to a fire call, he had an accident on the way to the call. He was only 19 years old. He sustained a traumatic brain injury that almost claimed his life and has left him a quadrapelic with limited mobility. He is not paralyzed. He’s still an associate member with the department. He was also a firefighter and EMT at the South Boston Speedway the summer he had the accident. Kevin’s father is the maintenance manager at the speedway.

The doctors advised us to terminate life, but for us that wasn’t an option. Kevin is a survivor. He was born at 28 weeks weighing 2lbs 5oz., 15 inches long.

We have researched stem cell therapy for 3-4 years. After sending Kevin’s medical records to a doctor in California, we were told he was a candidate for the umbilical cord blood stem cell therapy, but would have to go to Tijuana, Mexico to have the procedure done. The fire dept. immediately started raising funds for us to go. They raised enough for us to go for one trip. The cost is $5,000.00 per vial of stem cells plus the cost of the procedure is $5,000.00. Then there’s the cost of travel expenses -$6,000.00. We would like to see Kevin get 6-8 vials this time.

On September 25, 2006 we went to Mexico and had the umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant. Since the procedure has been done, we have seen 30 improvements, some being significant. His speech is much better. His medicine for spasticity in his extremities has been reduced to where he is only getting 22% of what he was getting. That is a 78% reduction in 2 months. He now has slight movement in all 5 fingers on his left hand, which he didn’t have before. We knew if the first trip was successful we would need to return every six months until no more improvements are seen. It is wonderful that after 8 years we can still see improvements because of this treatment.

We are now trying to raise the funds to go back. The South Boston Fire Dept. is accepting donations. I’m reaching out to others outside of this area for help. I’ve never reached out to others for help since Kevin’s accident, but the importance of Kevin continuing to receive the stem cell therapy means too much to him for me not to reach out and ask.

I want to push the government and the medical field to research this avenue of treatment for others. I don’t want this just to help my son, but for it to help others as well. This means that Kevin needs to continue this process to prove the success of this procedure.



If you would like to send a donation or know of others that would like to help, please send the donation to:

Kevin Daniels Stem Cell Fund

South Boston Fire Dept.

403 Broad Street

South Boston Va. 24592

You can call Chief William Murray with any questions at 434-575-4292. The dept. is receiving and administering the funds and all donations are tax deductable.

Any donation would be greatly appreciated.

May God bless you and keep you is my prayer.





Pat Daniels

1106 Daniels Trail

Halifax, VA. 24558

434-575-1740