Umbilical-Cord Stem-Cell Treatment Gives Sight to Blind Child

familyandlife.org ^ | 18th Mar 09

[GonzoII]

A two-year-old girl can see for the first time, following stem-cell treatment. Dakota Clarke, who was born blind, is the first patient to undergo the new type of therapy. The £30,000 treatment, which involves inserting stems cells from an umbilical cord into her forehead, lets her see people, objects, colours and lights around her. Dakota suffers from Septo-Optic Dysplasia, in which the optic nerve doesn’t develop properly, and has responded faster than expected to the treatment. Her parents, Wilma, 28, and Darren, 34, are hoping she’ll keep improving and enjoy a lifetime of sight.

[GonzoII]

Another great advance.

[A CA Guy]

Praise God and those Doctors.
Nice stuff.

[Paleo Conservative]

Another great advance.

You must be mistaken. Only treatments derived from aborted fetal stem cells offer any hope for curing disease.

[AngieGal]

Amazing! I’m more and more glad we stored our kids’ cord blood...

[The_Reader_David]

Well, yes and no.

In the Orthodox Church, there is a prophecy that in the days of Antichrist, all of Christ’s miracles will be reproduced, except that the dead will not be raised. (Notice, the prophecy does *not* assert that Antichrist will reproduce the miracles.) The lame walk, those born blind receive their sight, and I’m sure we can wither fig-trees in a day with the appropriate herbicide.

[fullchroma]

Hmmm. Umbilical-cord stem-cell treatment. Isn’t that the sort of research for which Obama recently cut federal funding? Cut funding in favor of embryonic stem-cell research? Embryonic stem-cell research which has thus far produced nothing but tumors?

I must have my facts wrong. This doesn’t make any sense.

[Ev Reeman]

I thought medical science was on the verge of creating synthetic stem cells so that new or as yet unborn life could be protected.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

In the Orthodox Church, there is a prophecy that in the days of Antichrist, all of Christ’s miracles will be reproduced, except that the dead will not be raised.

So, the prophecy says "This will happen", right?

Not "These things are bad so look out for them".

I don't understand why Christians get scared of things that the Lord told us would happen.

[Between the Lines]

A bit more to this story:

In Dakota's case, stem cells from a donor's umbilical cord were fed intravenously into her forehead every day for a fortnight. They went to her optic nerve to restore her sight, to her brain to improve her balance and to her bowel to work on problems there.

Darren said: "Her eyes used to wobble all over the place, now she can follow objects from several feet away. She can walk beside me holding only one hand where previously she would fall over."

Stem cell miracle gives gift of sight to toddler Dakota Clarke

Also important to this story is that the stem cells are from a donor's umbilical cord blood. This is the first I have heard of where donor cord blood was used with any success. In most successful cases the stem cells are usually from the child's own cord blood.

[fullchroma]

Well, they’d better put a stop to that as well.

[Between the Lines]

Little Dakota Clarke

[wndsong]

Hmmm. Umbilical-cord stem-cell treatment. Isn’t that the sort of research for which Obama recently cut federal funding? Cut funding in favor of embryonic stem-cell research? Embryonic stem-cell research which has thus far produced nothing but tumors?

I must have my facts wrong. This doesn’t make any sense.

---

That is exactly what I was just asking myself - I do not believe most people realize these stem cells were in the group described as adult stem cell. I am correct - Right?

[GonzoII]

"Christ’s miracles will be reproduced"

This is the effect of scientific research.

Mk:13:22: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

It looks like your not seduced by these "signs and wonders"

[Neidermeyer]

Another UK paper with pics...

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/dakota-was-born-blind-but-now-threeyearold-can-see-14213970.html

[GonzoII]

Ping.

[DirtyHarryY2K]

Great News For A Change!!!

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[Mrs. Don-o]

Yes, as far as I know you are correct. Any stem cells other than embryonic are defined as “adult” — even if they come from cord blood or placenta.

God bless these medical researchers and the doctors -— the ones who respect human life!

[Mrs. Don-o]

I'd agree that the thing was sinister if they were using morally reprehensible methods: transplants from nonconsenting human subjects, fetal tissues, embryonic stem cells, or the like.

But as far as I can see, that's no reason to give a "yes and no" to these morally unobjectionable medical advances. They look like "all yes" to me.

The methods described in the article simply expand the already wonderfully huge list of morally licit ways to help the lame walk and the blind see --- including laser surgery, physical therapy, and Vitamin A. Bless them all!

Only beware of those who say science must be "free of the moral law." These men and women have kevorkianized consciences will may indeed produce "good" results via homicide.

[Bellflower]

Keep getting the word out, there is a major difference between adult and umbilical cord stem cells compared to embryonic stem cells. The media doesn't make the distinction so that they can tout embryonic stem cell research.

[Salvation]

No need for embryonic stem cell research, Mr. Pres-—ent Obama.