A new perspective on stem cells

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A new perspective on stem cells

By JEFF JARDINEBEE LOCAL COLUMNIST

Last Updated: October 3, 2004, 04:56:07 AM PDT

Imagine seeing things through Fran Lopes' eyes. You'd find yourself looking up from the seat of a wheelchair. You'd find yourself upset with healthy jerks who park in spaces designated for the handicapped. Worse, they park in the striped areas the disabled need to jockey wheelchairs in and out of cars. You'd find yourself eating and drinking at precise times and in precise amounts in order to control bodily functions. You'd find yourself unable to reach items on the upper shelves in the supermarket. Lopes is a paraplegic. He jammed his lower back during a motocross racing accident in 1996, severely damaging his spinal cord. "Seven years, 10 months ago, to be exact," the 52-year-old Escalon resident said. The former E. & J. Gallo Winery production superintendent would love to have his body back. Science and technology can make that happen, he believes. So count him among those supporting Proposition 71, the stem cell research initiative on the Nov. 2 ballot. It has a wide range of support, not only from those with spinal cord injuries, but also from a variety of social, medical and business groups. Many religious organizations oppose Prop. 71. They cite moral grounds because one source of stem cells is frozen fertilized embryos. "It is unconscionable to fund the creation and destruction of human embryos in the name of speculative scientific research," according to a statement issued by the California Catholic Conference. Others, including The Bee's editorial board, oppose its $3 billion price tag. The federal government also is working on stem cell legislation. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., wants to ban all forms of cloning. Yet, Republican senators Orrin Hatch of Utah and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania join Democrats Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts and Dianne Feinstein of California by favoring therapeutic cloning — the kind that could heal Lopes, not duplicate him. And Reagan believes the research could lead to a cure for Alzheimer's disease, which ruined the quality of life for her husband, Reagan, in what were supposed to be his golden years. Lopes sees only that science and technology could be allowed to help him, and thousands of other paraplegics and quadriplegics, walk again. He sees stem cell research as the best chance to cure many other diseases and conditions as well, including multiple sclerosis. That's why he formed Research for Cure, a nonprofit organization that raised $121,000 in its first three years, with the money going to the Reeve-Irvine Research Center at University of California, Irvine. It's named for actor Reeve, who was paralyzed when he tumbled off his horse in an equestrian event. They've watched as Reeve-Irvine doctors Hans Keirstead and Oswald Steward used stem cells that enabled paralyzed rats to walk again. "Cloning — the word is terrible," said Miner, a Dixon resident and quadriplegic who works with Lopes to raise money for research. She was injured in a car crash 12 years ago Oct. 29. "It conjures up scary, enstein images." But, she said, there are some 400,000 frozen fertilized eggs being stored in labs across the country. Many, she contends, will be simply tossed out because they can be stored for only five years. "(Scientists) can take those embryos and make stem cells for your daughter," she said. "Or the neuron (cells) Fran and I need. But they can't do it now because they haven't been given the funding. Like Lopes, she believes stem cell research is her best — maybe only — hope for regaining mobility and a better life. "It's phenomenal," she said. "It's like when antibiotics came. Or like polio, when they funded (the research) and cured it on a national level." So the debate rages, with California's voters weighing in next month. Supporters and opponents will state their opinions and tell you how they feel. But few will see it from Lopes' vantage point: His wheelchair. Jeff Jardine's column appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in Local News. He can be reached at 578-2383 or jjardine@.... Research for Cure will host its fourth charity golf tournament Oct. 11 at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club. Proceeds will benefit the Reeve-Irvine Research Center at UC Irvine. The $150 entry includes green fees, cart, prizes, lunch, dinner and a silent auction. The dinner and auction only is $30 per person. Contact Lopes at 838-3641 for more information.

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