Stem Cell Research can help us too

[Guest guest]

Guest editorial

" A Vote for Hope "

By J. Byrne

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A few years ago, I noticed that I needed stronger eyeglasses to read and

drive a car. After a few visits to the doctor, I learned with horror that I

was going blind, a victim of what is called macular degeneration brought on

by Type 2 diabetes. In a few months, my friends and loved ones became blurs,

and then, just dark shapes in a blob of lights.

No longer could I look out my window and see Lady Liberty shining in the

harbor. No longer could I see my five year-old niece or 13 year-old nephew

growing up before me. On September 11, 2001, I heard the Twin Towers fall

and the F-16s roar over Jersey City, but I couldn’t see what was going on. I

now read the Record every day with the help of friends who narrate to me my

favorite columnists and stories.

There has not been much hope for the millions of diabetics like myself who

have had to fight vision loss or other byproducts of diabetes. I have been

combing the Internet and medical journals in recent months and speaking with

doctors about experimental drugs or clinical trials that may help me regain

my sight, all to no avail. I have even received the personal assistance of

Senator Jon Corzine, who pledged his office’s resources to aid diabetics all

across our nation.

Last summer, GOP-candidate Bret Schundler was caught in an embarrassing

flip-flop on the issue of stem-cell research when candidate E.

McGreevey courageously announced that he was in favor of making New Jersey

the second state in the country to approve research into stem cells taken

from frozen embryos that would not be used to produce children and that are

already scheduled for disposal. Reading that story in the paper immediately

filled me with hope, and I’m sure it did the same for others suffering from

incurable ailments like Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s. President Bush,

ignoring the pleas from members of his own party and notables like

Reagan, moved to deny federal funding stem-cell research, proving that the

Religious Right and Catholic Bishops – two organizations that have flunked

the credibility test in recent months – hold far too much power in the White

House. Our President’s stand is holding hostage the hopes of millions of us

nationwide hoping for some compassionate conservatism from Washington.

In Trenton, Senators Dick Codey and Barbara Buono followed Governor

McGreevey’s initiative and led the fight to have a bill passed in the Senate

this month that would legalize embryonic stem-cell research. The bill is now

in the hands of the Assembly, and I’m told that it stands a good chance of

passing in 2003.

Governor McGreevey now has a chance to build a real, substantial legacy for

him that would go beyond the silly parade of partisan gaffes that have kept

him in the news for the wrong reasons. New Jersey’s GOP thankfully is not as

hard-hearted as its Sunbelt cousins in Congress, and I believe that this

legislation could be a bipartisan accomplishment both sides of the aisle

could be proud of. Providing hope to residents like myself and the thousands

of diabetes sufferers statewide is a worthy start for Governor McGreevey that

would make him the Governor of hope, not " choppergate. "

I guess that for many of this bill’s opponents, waking up each day to

near-darkness or watching the faces of your loved ones sadden as you slip

into the depths of Alzheimer’s disease are the prices we have to pay for our

illness, and that prayers and empty promises are all we need to sustain us.

I have a feeling that Governor McGreevey, like candidate McGreevey, is

thankfully not one of them. I’m counting on him to cast that " vote for hope "

for myself and all residents running out of hope and out of time.

J. Byrne is a resident of Jersey City.