Real Life Stem Cell Stories

My Brother has ALS. He was a top athlete in high school and college.He was a wonderful coach to his children. Now ALS has taken it all away! This debilitating disease has stricken him of his body's function, his ability to talk, eat, dress, bath, or even go to the bathroom on his own. He is only 45 and has been fighting for 4 years. Something needs to be done to fight these and multiple horrible diseases. Please help a family in need! Thanks, Jill Daskalakis

Jill D., gaithersburg MD, April 10, 2007  |  permalink

Dad,

It's our first holiday season without you here to spread your smiles and cheers.

It hasn't quite been a year since you passed but it feels like ages since I had a hug from my dear old Dad.

I am grateful to have had you as my father, my friend, my mentor.

I am grateful you left behind your Dad for me to lean on when I miss you.

I am grateful that you taught me just how special friends and family are.

I am grateful that you taught me to live life to the fullest and not to waste another moment.

I am grateful that you showed me just how special I was to you.

I am grateful for all the road trips, concerts, and toe tappin' rock n' rollin' dancin' fever good times we had.

I am grateful that you believed that even though I was similar to my mother I was just as similar to you and it is all up to me to choose who I want to be.

We miss you Dad and we wish you were here. As we make our trip to OKC to be with the Cave's I'll be thinking of you and all the holidays we made that trip together. I'll remember last year when you had all the kids riding with you on the wheelchair and despite your muscles fighting it you smiled and laughed and enjoyed the hell out of your short life.

Thank you Dad for giving me life...

Your loving daughter

Carie C., Broken Arrow OK, April 3, 2007  |  permalink

I was diagnosed with MS in 1991 and I cry almost daily.I can barely get around and yes I feel sorry for myself all the time wondering why the hell does it have to be me.I pray and ask God to heal me and still nothing.I am mad at myself and everyone else because of my short comings,I dont feel like a whole person any more but I watch other people who have no idea what it would be like if they woke up one day and suddenly they had no corrdination and their legs would not hold them,plus they cant hold items like a pencil.But I hope and pray it doesnt happen to no one else knowing it will.I want to walk through the mall and walk out to my mail box,just simple things people take for granted.It hurts deep inside knowing im getting close to being in a wheel chair and its mentally tiring having to fight every moment of every waking hour to change the tv channels,walk to the bathroom before i have an accident or pouring a glass of milk.I am not able to stand long enough to cook any more so my husband is slowly learning to cook and im trying to eat it.I am so embarresed in public because i cant stand long or walk far.its hard to be around able bodied people because they either pitty you and treat you like a child or they think your faking alot of it for attention.I have always heard children can be cruel well I see every day where those children get it.

Joy R., Paragould AR, April 3, 2007  |  permalink

Our lives were just begining. Planning a wedding, to buy a house and start a family when tragedy struck.

In May of 2006 my Fiance was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident.

Ironically, he was driving home from building a ramp for a friend who is a quadriplegic.

Please support stem cell. Please help millions get back the life they once had.

This picture was taken before Joeys accident. Please help bring that smile back to him.

Carolyn W., Cleveland OH, April 3, 2007  |  permalink