But wait a minute—the stem cells used to astor Russell Salzmann discover this new blood supply did not come from suffers from diabetes. the umbilical cords left behind by the thousands He knows he will not get of babies that are born every day in America. Nor better. He knows other diabetics were they coaxed from the quivering rivers of liposuctioned fat that daily flow out of America’s who have lost toes, then feet, belly and backside.These things get thrown away then entire legs to the disease. Pastor by the gallon while researchers concentrate on something more grisly: embryonic stem cells.The Salzmann has also heard about the stem cells that create this potential new blood dazzling promises of embryonic stem supply are taken from little babies who are still cell research with its potential to find too young to be born. a cure for the illness that will hound The Terrorism of him the rest of his days. Embryonic Stem Cell Research
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The question for Pastor Salzmann, and for all Christians, is this: Does the chance of a cure for a terrible disease like diabetes make it right to sacrifice other people’s lives?
Forget the Fat—Kill the Baby Stem cells can be harvested from a number of sources, including bone marrow, brain tissue, fat, and even the extra-rich blood of umbilical cords and placentas. Oh, by the way—stem cells are also found in unborn babies. Stem cells are the building blocks that formed your body while you were in still your mother’s womb, creating your muscles, bones, cartilage, and blood.These cells hold the potential of creating “replacement” hearts or kidneys or other organs for those who need them. Many scientists also believe that stem cells will lead to cures for such deadly diseases as cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and yes, diabetes. Amazingly enough, these stem cells even have the potential of creating a completely new blood supply. What seemingly great news! This means no more blood shortages, no more blood drives, no more fear of getting AIDS from a transfusion of dirty blood. Stem cells can save the day!
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Life H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 10
Many times, people do not concern themselves with a certain issue or problem until that problem lands in their own lap.Terrorism is an example. A few years ago, terrorists were someone else’s problem. Car bombs killed someone else’s family in far-away countries and it all went away when we turned off the TV. Now terrorism has come to the United States. We hear about it every day, we go through tighter security at the airport, and we always look twice at someone who might be from the Middle East. Embryonic stem cell research has not yet fallen into the laps of American Christians in the way that terrorism has. Many Christians are morally opposed to it, but they do not yet have a personal stake in it. Most of us can still think of embryonic stem cell research as someone else’s problem—Pastor Salzmann’s problem. An endless blood supply developed from embryonic stem cells promises to change all of that. Most Christians will probably never need a new heart or kidney (thanks be to God). However, there is a pretty good chance that many of us—or someone we dearly love—will someday need a blood transfusion. Blood created from a baby who was purposefully killed.That’s a problem!
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