“Stem cells are life! Don’t take away life! Those embryos have rights too!” I can almost hear the imagined protesters in my mind as I sift through the stack of waivers, medical recommendations, and case studies spread across my kitchen table. The materials arrived in a conspicuously large manila envelope, and I had to resist the impulse to conceal it under my shirt as I walked back into the house. Could I face repercussions from the HOA for this? Would these documents violate neighborhood bylaws?
The challenge is that many people simply don’t understand. They don’t look beyond the headlines and the attention-grabbing posters. I didn’t either until my son’s need for stem cells became undeniable—a necessity for him to walk, talk, and move freely.
The Reality of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is not something you can just “work through.” It’s not a condition that can be conquered. Just ask our insurance provider. We do everything we can. We have a wonderful team of physical, speech, feeding, and occupational therapists. Our son participates in equine therapy and swims in private pools for aquatic therapy. We’re doing it all, yet it still falls short.
He relies on a wheelchair, a walker, and a stander, and it still isn’t enough. None of these tools grants him the independence he longs for, and as his mother, I would fulfill every need he has if I didn’t realize he desires more than just guidance through life. That’s why I’m diligently reviewing the forms, signing waivers, and collaborating with pathologists and study coordinators at the university where we will join a stem cell study.
Understanding Stem Cell Therapy
When people hear “stem cell,” they often envision tiny, developing blastocysts destined to become babies. It evokes a tender instinct to hold our children closer, to cherish every aspect of their being. But I urge you to understand that it’s not what you might think. I am not taking anyone’s embryos. As a mother of three who has gone through multiple IVF cycles and has three embryos frozen, I would never consider using embryos from the production line.
Stem cell research has made significant strides. The stem cells we’ll be using come from leftover blood cells from donated umbilical cords and placentas. We owe a debt of gratitude to those mothers who have chosen to donate, rather than bury or dispose of these vital resources. We need their generosity for our son’s benefit.
Hopes and Fears
Will this be the miraculous solution that rejuvenates damaged brain cells? Will it allow the wheelchair to gather dust and the sign-language videos to be stored away? I can’t say for certain. But I do know that I want to explore every option to give my son the best chance at a fulfilling life, whatever that may entail.
I hesitate to share our decision to pursue stem cell therapy due to the potential misconceptions. I fear that people will picture helpless embryos being exploited to satisfy our desires. I want to clarify our choices before they even ask. I want to paint a more accurate picture than the one they might conjure in their minds. I wish I had my own billboard to express this.
For now, I’ll focus on my manila envelope and confront the unspoken fears as they arise—because that’s what parents do. They navigate societal norms in the hope that the world will be more understanding by the time their children are ready to take on their own challenges.