Im pleased to support the Stepnow Campaign. Read the blurb, see the film and then maybe stop by the site. Its worthwhile, not for me but for all those who will follow me in the future. It could be you so lets Step now!.....this is taken from the http://www.stepnow.org/ website......
"What is Spinal Cord Injury?
The spinal cord is the major bundle of nerves that carries nerve impulses to and from the brain to the rest of the body. The brain and the spinal cord constitute the Central Nervous System.
A spinal cord injury (SCI) can be a traumatic blow to the spine that fractures or dislocates vertebrae. The damage begins at the moment of injury when displaced bone fragments, disc material, or ligaments bruise or tear into spinal cord tissue. Spinal cord injury can also be a result from diseases or illnesses such as Polio, Transverse Myelitis, Multiple Sclerosis, AVM’s, Spina Bifida, Friedreich’s Ataxia, etc.
Most injuries to the spinal cord don’t completely sever it. Instead, an injury is more likely to cause fractures and compression of the vertebrae, which then crush and destroy the axons, extensions of nerve cells that carry signals up and down the spinal cord between the brain and the rest of the body. An injury to the spinal cord can damage a few, many, or almost all of these axons. Some injuries will allow almost complete recovery. Others will result in complete paralysis below the level of impact. But paralysis, along with the associated problems of bowel/bladder control, sexual function, pressure sores & skin care, pain and spasms, is very complex and no two cases appear to be the same. This has made a cure a very difficult and daunting prospect. However, now more than ever before, there is reason to hope that a cure is in fact imminent – that reason for hope is stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine.
What are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are one of the most fascinating areas of biology today. But like many expanding fields of scientific inquiry, research on stem cells raises scientific questions as rapidly as it generates new discoveries.
Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or to become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.
As a result, they have the potential to provide cures or new treatments not only for spinal injuries but also for many diseases and injuries, including cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, HIV/AIDS, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s. Embryonic stem cells in particular have the promise of being the key factor in bringing about a cure for spinal cord injuries.
On the strength of this promise we come together to fight for this cure."
Click on the triangle to see the film.....
Thanks very much Lorraine for doing your bit to spread the word for cure research and Stepnow. We don't know how long a cure will take in coming (it WILL come), but no matter when it does the important thing in the meantime is to keep the focus on cure research particularly, as you say, for the benefit of those newly injured and the injuries yet to happen. Any research working towards a treatment that could offer return of breathing for those on respirators, or hand function, or bladder/bowel control let alone walking has got to be supported by all of us, our governments and the public!
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. Nowadays we hear more and more info every day about the use of stem cells. One such I read in "The Washington Times" about Stem Cells Can Aid Spinal Disc Repair. This is going to be a real hope, of an effective new treatment for the many sufferers of low back pain.
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