Paralyzed woman walks again after stem cell therapy

Yahoo News ^ | 11-27-2004 | AFP

[RepCath]

SEOUL (AFP) - A South Korean woman paralyzed for 20 years is walking again after scientists say they repaired her damaged spine using stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood.

Hwang Mi-Soon, 37, had been bedridden since damaging her back in an accident two decades ago.

Last week her eyes glistened with tears as she walked again with the help of a walking frame at a press conference where South Korea (news - web sites) researchers went public for the first time with the results of their stem-cell therapy.

[RS]

"What God and teachings are you talking about?"

Christian Scientists might be one of them -

"drugs, blood products, blood transfusion, organ donation, life support
None of these are acceptable within the teachings of Christian Science"


http://www.ethnicityonline.net/christianity_christian_scientists.htm

[socialismisinsidious]

I agree.

I do have to question how true this is....after being paralyzed for 20 years! magically fixing the cord would still not allow someone to immediately stand/walk b/c of muscle atrophy and contractures. Much rehab would be required.

[trussell]

The democrats at DU are going crazy over this. Calling the President crazy and evil because he wants to stop StemCell Research...funny thing is, he totally supports it as long as it doesn't involve using the product of murdered babies!!

[inquest]

magically fixing the cord would still not allow someone to immediately stand/walk b/c of muscle atrophy and contractures. Much rehab would be required.

There's nothing in the article that claimed she immediately started to walk after having her spinal cord fixed. The whole thing was arranged at a press conference, which suggested that she wasn't exactly straight out of the operating room.

[MortMan]

I take it you refuse the use of any medical breakthroughs - like penicillin and its derivatives?

Use of umbilical cord blood stem cells is not considered sinful, to my knowledge, by any christian sect. Feel free to correct this statement, if you have specifics and references.

[socialismisinsidious]

something about it just doesn't sound right to me...I would love it if it turns out to be true b/c I believe that embryonic use is wrong and b/c I have an interest in spinal cord injury rehab. but there were a number of subtle things in this article that makes me question the authenticity
when it is reproducible I will believe it.

[rang1995]

over and over again i hear that NOTHING has been done with embryonic stem-cells (they are too wild or something like that)The only success has been adult or umbilical