Farrah Fawcett has slipped into a coma

Farah Fawcett has always been a hero of mine.  From her antics as an Angel which I watched with pre-teen glee to her outspoken advocacy for under-represented causes like her role in “The Burning Bed” which garnered her an Emmy Nomination.  Flying to Germany is never a cake walk and I can’t imagine having to do it while in late stage rectal cancer.

I wish she could have gone to the Los Angeles Hospital for Advanced Stem Cell Application (LAHASCA)…but no such place exists.  She was always pushing the envelop and I applaud her setting an example and going to Germany for stem cells that are not available in the US.

Such a shame that someone loved by so many and with the financial means and the knowledge of what was required, had to leave the country to get medical treatment.

Sending strength. – dg

According to several resources, Farrah Fawcett has been in hospital for day in the Los Angeles area, where she has reportedly slipped into unconsciousness and dying of cancer. According to several resources, Farrah Fawcett has been in hospital since Thursday, where she has reportedly slipped into unconsciousness and dying of cancer.

The 62-year-old was diagnosed with anal cancer three years ago. Though in 2007 she joyously declared that it was in remission, a malignant polyp re-emerged in the same spot just a few months later. She recently returned from Germany, where she could legally get controversial embryonic stem cell treatments.

Farrah had been filming her fight versus the potentially deadly disease for a TV series called ‘A Wing and Prayer’ and wants other people to learn from her experience with living with the illness.

The 24-year-old son of acting couple Ryan O’Neal and Farrah Fawcett pleaded innocent to drug charges last month in a separate case involving his father. Redmond and Ryan O’Neal were arrested after police allegedly discovered methamphetamines in their house after a routine probation visit, stemming from Redmond’s previous drug conviction. The elder O’Neal has since pleaded guilty to felony drug possession and was ordered to join an 18-month drug deferment program.

And as if things couldn’t get worse for the family, Ryan Redmond was driving a friend to visit an inmate at the Pitchess Detention Center South when they were stopped around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday at a routine security checkpoint.

The police have arrested him on charges of possessing a controlled substance, and bringing narcotics into a secured jail facility.

He remains behind bars after his bail was set at 25,000 dollars, reports Contactmusic.

via Farrah Fawcett has slipped into a coma « eFitnessNow.

“stem cell research & celebrity culture…” – Popjustice – Amerie interview

amerie on stem cells and south park

Amerie deals with the important ethical issues…

When Amerie released ’1 Thing’ a few years ago she shot herself right in the foot because there was obviously nothing else amazing on her ‘Touch’ album. So she cleared off for a bit, had a think and is now back with an amazing new album full of hit singles. So well done her.

We spoke to Amerie recently…

Would you like to be a South Park character, Amerie?
Totally! But when they do celebrities you’re lucky if you get to play a person, most of the times you’ll end up playing a dog and all you’ll get to do is just bark for a whole episode. I think Matt and Trey – the writers – are really smart! Some people just look at ‘South Park’ and say ‘oh it’s just this cartoon kinda thing’ but what is so funny about the show is that whatever the hot topic is, whether it’s stem cell research or celebrity obsessed culture, whatever it is, they always put it into their cartoon.

Would you be happy to bark?
Yeah, I’ll be the teapot, I don’t care. I love it.

via Popjustice – Amerie interview.

MICHAEL J. FOX IS A DAMN FOOL!

Does the end justify the means?  It has come to this.  I’ve resorted to name calling and insults in the hopes that this gets to Mr Fox and he opens his eyes to the benefits of adult stem cells for treating Parkinson’s Disease.

I respect and admire Mr Fox too much to sit idly by while he chases the pipe dream of embryonic stem cell treatments.

You call yourself a leader in Parkinson’s disease treatment discovery, Mr Fox?

You are leading the multitude of sufferers of Parkinson’s disease, who hold you in such high esteem, off a cliff and into the sea.

How many patients must go to China and return “with a significant reduction in their debilitating Parkinson’s disease symptoms” before you take heed?

I apologize for this sophmoric and crude tact but the ends WILL justify the means…if you hear this.

Respectfully-

David Granovsky

American and European Parkinson’s Sufferers Find Chinese Stem Cell Treatment Effective, Proving Western Debates Moot

Westerners Return from Beijing’s World-Class Stem Cell Treatment Hospital with Clear Improvement, Giving Hope Not Found at Home

Date:10/8/2007

BEIJING, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Tiantan Puhua Neurosurgical Hospital, the world’s leading center for effective treatment of Parkinson’s disease using adult retinal stem cells, today here announced that four more international patients returned home from China with a significant reduction in their debilitating Parkinson’s disease symptoms. These success stories clearly demonstrate stem cells can effectively be used to treat afflictions like Parkinson’s in addition to many other neurological disorders. More details and videos of the four patients’ progress can be found at http://www.stemcellschina.com.

While debates over stem cells continue in many countries, Western clinical trials have so far found the use of adult retinal stem cells to be the best chance for Parkinson’s sufferers to gain a better quality of life. Chinese neurologists at Tiantan Puhua Hospital are among those worldwide leading the implementation of this cutting-edge science through safe and effective treatment. Following Penny Thomas of Hawaii, who benefited from the hospital’s stem cell treatment a year ago, four more patients have now come home to better lives in the United States and Europe after treatment at Tiantan Puhua Hospital in Beijing.

Jane Edwards, a 55-year-old United Kingdom citizen, saw comparatively dramatic improvement in her debilitating Parkinson’s symptoms almost immediately after a minimally invasive injection that implanted millions of high-quality adult hRPE (human Retinal Pigment Epithelial) cells. The procedure utilizes the latest stereotactic technology. This cutting edge three-dimensional imaging system assists doctors in locating the most appropriate area of the brain or other nerve center to implant the cells…

via American and European Parkinson’s Sufferers Find Chinese Stem Cell Treatment Effective, Proving Western De… ( Westerners Return from Beijing’s Wor…).

Contender for ‘Idol’ Says Sight is Improving

devin-riley-jammin

Contender for ‘Idol’ Says Sight is Improving

Optic Nerve Hypoplasia

Saturday, 31 May 2008 08:00

Source: The Daily Journal

MAURICE RIVER — Port Elizabeth resident and singer Devin Riley finally may be able to fully see for the first time in her life thanks to state-of-the-art treatment she received in China.

Doctors diagnosed Riley with optic nerve hypoplasia when she was 3 months old. The condition left her with no vision in her right eye and minimal vision in her left. Riley traveled to Hangzhou, China, at the beginning of May to undergo a procedure designed to treat the condition.

Riley first gained media attention for her local singing career. Last year she auditioned — unsuccessfully — for “American Idol.”

Doctors at Beike Biotech performed the treatment, which involved using stem cells taken from the umbilical cords of newborns, to regenerate the optic nerves.

She returned to Mill-ville late Sunday evening, and Riley, 19, described the trip as “worth it.”

“It went very well,” she said. “It was an interesting and amazing experience.”

Riley said the immediate improvements have been noticeable and her eyesight is expected to get better over the coming months.

“I won’t see any major improvements for three to six months,” she said. “My eyes are already focusing better, though. They don’t shake as much.”

Additional improvements, according to Riley, include enhanced light reception.

Doctors told Riley to simply keep living her life, and she plans to follow their advice.

“I think it’s going to work,” she said. “I just have to sit back and do what I do. We’ll see what happens.”

via Contender for ‘Idol’ Says Sight is Improving.

Rihanna steps forward to help 5-year-old leukemia victim

Rihanna

Rihanna steps forward to help 5-year-old leukemia victim

February 9th, 2009 – 4:09 pm ICT by ANI – Send to a friend:

London, Feb 9 (ANI): Pop star Rihanna is helping a 5-year-old girl suffering from leukemia by finding a bone marrow donor for her.

Jasmina Amena has been struggling to find a donor, who can add relief to her life.

However, the Umbrella hitmaker, who was deeply touched when she came to know about the New York girls plight, has taken the initiative to help the girl.

When I saw her video, it broke my heart, the Sun quoted Rihanna, as saying.

It is so unfair that for a black patient it is so much harder to find a bone marrow match, Rihanna added.

Jasmian, who has been in hospital since January 20, is touched by Rihannas gesture.

Rihanna loves children. Im so excited, Jasmina said. (ANI)

via Rihanna steps forward to help 5-year-old leukemia victim.