Getwellbean

According to her massage therapist, Ana (who is one of the therapist involved in the Global Ischemia Foundation Massage-A-Thon), one of Kathleen showed significantly more response to pressure points today during her massage. The massage relaxed Kathleen and improved her blood oxygen saturation significantly. Congrats to the Santa Clara University team who upset the 2nd place Loyola-Marymount Lions last night and to Samie who had a steal in her last basketball game of the season.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/1500AP_Stem_Cell_Trial.html

Tonight on sixty minutes: Can the doctor who made paralyzed rats walk again do the same for humans? 60 Minutes correspondent Ed Bradley reports on stem-cell research.

Kathleen has been chugging strong today. For nearly the entire afternoon she has been up in the wheelchair. There is a noticeable difference in her demeanor as she strolls outside in the chair rather than staying in the house (or as Maria her caregiver says, "My girl, she likes it outside!"

Anti-stem cell groups in California are now starting to force scientists out of their chosen career as funding drys up. (For Eric Chiao, PhD, the money made available by Proposition 71 represents more than a theoretical boost to stem cell research in California -- it's the difference between continuing a research project he considers vital and finding a new job.) California still has not spent a cent on stem cell research from Proposition 71 which passed with nearly 60% approval.


Here is the president's position as stated in his own words in response to the following question. (Reporter) Regarding embryonic stem cells. Why do you think that either storing them or even discarding them is better than using them for research?
I have made my position very clear on that issue. Uh...I believe that..uh...federal monies..uh..that end up destroying life is not positive, it's not good. And, so therefore, I am against the extension of the..uh..uh..new embryonic stem cell lines. As you know, I've made the decision that existing lines should receive federal dollars and we've had about 600 different experiments with about 3000 more to go.
And, so, you ask about frozen embryos. That would entail the destruction of life and the use of federal dollars to destroy life is something I simply do not support.

(Reporter) If I understand you correctly, the embryos put together for in vitro fertilization, do contain life. If that's the case, do you believe that those people who create those embryos for in vitro fertilization, have an obligation to ensure that they are brought to term if they are in fact not needed by the original (last word(s) spoken over by the president.
(President Bush) The issue that involves the federal government is whether or not we use taxpayers money that would end up destroying that life, that's the issue at hand.
Huh? Does he even understand his own position?

Kathleen has experienced several good days and was warmed by the return of one of her caregivers who recently lost her son.

This Sunday CBS will air a special on stem cells during sixty minutes.


The Global Ischemia Foundation website has been updated with fundraiser information to help support such research. (Email for appointment times) Currently the Bush Administration supports only 1/10 stem cell type grants yet recently funded a study to determine whether 'Ugly People' commit more crime.

Kathleen had a wonderful massage this morning and her girls got a little teaser massage from the massage therapist too. She seemed to be happy that her daughters were getting some of the treatment and moved her eyes toward the massage action.

Congratulations to the Santa Clara Broncos who upset USF last night. Good luck to the Saratoga Falcons in CCS play tonight. The team plays at home tonight against Aragon @ 7pm

Kathleen had a mixed week. She sat up in the chair for long periods of time and snuggled with the girls during movies, but she also threw up again and had spotty caregiving during the weekend (replacements). The Davey's are looking into a possible change in the weekend schedule if things don't improve.

Plans are still continuing for the GIF fundraiser event. On March 12th Mary Ann from
Theraputic Art will have one hour appts in Los Gatos at 2pm and 3:30pm.

Ana from Natural Touch Massage in Campbell will have appts at 9a.m./10:15a.m./11:30a.m./1:00p.m./2:15p.m./3:30p.m./5:00p.m./6:15p.m. & 7:30p.m.

Happy Valentines Day. Samie surprised me by memorizing her monthly poem early so she could sing it to mommy for Valentine's Day before bedtime.
Crimson hearts and charming laces
Pretty smiling and dimpled faces
Dainty bits of verse and rhymes
Oh what pretty valentines
I must buy one for my mother
Of fair ladies there's no other
that I love so much you see
She's the only girl for me.
I love you mom.

Before bed Mike popped open a bottle of champagne and Kathleen drank a good sized gulp and swallowed it.

Listen to a good interview which explains the controversy and future of stem cell research. Billions of cells die and are reborn every day due to stem cells.

Kathleen had a good day with an excellent new caregiver. The kids had a busy Sunday playing basketball, playing with their cousings, wishing their uncle happy birthday, playing at the Jungle and watching their "mommy video" with Kathleen and their nanny. They also watched the end of the St. Mary's game where the officials made two incorrect calls to cost the Broncos a victory in Moraga.


California conservatives are holding up research for potential cures for debillitating illnesses by ceaseless legal challenges to the voter approved California Stem Cell Initiative. "It's extremely unfortunate," said Robert Birgeneau, an institute board member of the delays. "Each day we're held up, more people are going to die."

New company moving toward stem cell treatment in the brain. Pre-clinical trials on mice look outstanding.

Stem cells may soon help women who have undergone a mastectomy following breast cancer. Hopefully it can help create connections between brain cells just as quickly.

Hopefully the Bush Administration will change its policy. This debate will be explored on 60 Minutes this weekend. "To me it means that the president’s policy is hypocritical and deceptive," says biotehicist Art Caplan. "It is not a secret that embryos are destroyed at infertility clinics. Caplan refers to couples who have decided they are finished having children or trying to conceive through in vitro fertilization who tell their clinics to destroy their unused embryos. “So we have a policy that says, ‘Can’t destroy them for research, I, as president, can’t abide by it,’” says Caplan. “[But] every day a clinic somewhere destroys one.” Caplan says keeping thousands of surplus embryos frozen is not much different than destroying them outright .

Until last night Kathleen hadn't shown any ill signs after her vomiting episode on Sunday. Last night, however, she slept very poorly and coughed frequently. Her breathing was also a little more shallow than normal though her oxygen was fine and she continues to show no signs of a fever. I felt so sorry for her last night but when the girls said goodbye this morning Kathleen let out a long, slow, and happy sigh which made me feel better.

Kathleen's Superbowl Sunday started out great. She got a relaxing massage and then went shoe shopping (two activities that are traditional favorites). Even without a caregiver, again, she was relaxed all afternoon until the early evening when she threw up (and aspirated) twice. The family must now be even more vigilant about a potential pneumonia.


Because of the noteworthy gains that Kathleen has made due to her massage therapy, the next fundraiser for the Global Ischemia Foundation will be a Massage Marathon on March 12th. Details available soon on the Global Ischemia site.

Kathleen had an up and down week. Its been hard for the caregiving staff since one of the caregivers is in Ethiopia getting married and another is also off work right now after the tragic death of her son. Essentially two caregivers are trying to balance the entire schedule between them. Yesterday, the agency missed a shift and Mike had to miss practice and one of the girls activity until his sister could come takeover.

Kathleen's massage therapy combined with physical therapy are continuing to have positive effects. The combined therapy has without a doubt improved her reflexes and lessened her tone. Clearly, the goals of the Davey family for Kathleen are to have her return. The best paths to this goal seem to be to keep Kathleen healthy and flexible and hope/pray for a miracle or to pursue stem cell treatment when it becomes available.

Heart issues are the #1 killer for women. Please make sure to get checked out if you have any signs of difficulty. http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20060131/hl_hsn/standardtestmissesheartdiseasesignsinwomen