The Medical Miracle

Mother-of-two becomes first transplant patient to receive an organ grown to order in a laboratory.

"Now I feel great. I am honoured."

Claudia Castillo is a 30 year old Spanish woman living in Barcelona had such severe infection from tuberculous that the trachea and bronchus (windpipe) to her left lung collapsed. The options were to either remove the lung or give her a transplant. The transplant was decided upon.

A donor trachea was obtained and a research group from the University of Padua washed the organ (with an "enzymatic detergent") to remove all living cells. This left the trachea framework made of collagen.

Scientists at the University of Bristol customized the donor trachea using stem cells obtained from Ms. Castillo's bone marrow to create the cartilage, and from inside her nose to create the inner lining. A bioreactor was used to "seed" the trachea with the new cells. See the complete article at The Independent, it is truly amazing! Click on the link below: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/claudia-castillo-the-pioneers-story-1024577.html

After four days the trachea was transplanted and in ten days the patient went home having had no complications. Because the organ was customized using stem cells from the patient the use of immuno-suppressant drugs were need as is usually the case with organ replacements.

If it were not for the research being done with stem cells this would never have been possible.

The Big Day is Getting Near!!!

Very soon now (Nov 24th) I will celebrate my 62nd birthday. At this point in my life I've been married for three years to a wonderful man, retired for 1 1/2 years, learned a new sport (golf), and have applied to receive social security. Yes, I've put in a lot of working years and with the downturn of the economy decided to receive my social security benefits early rather than at 66. My retirement check is just about enough to get me through the month, but I was having to draw money from other sources to supplement. Well with the economy in a sinkhole I don't want to touch any invested money, so Social Security to the rescue!!!

The Dream is Now Reality

On November 8th (our 3rd anniversary) Gerald and I were walking around the downtown area of Bastrop enjoying a lovely fall day, watching the crowds, looking at antique cars, and observing Veterans' Day. As I was about to cross the street I noticed this man and his young son and asked if I could photograph them.

We discussed the recent election where Barack Obama was elected to be the 44th President of the United States. This man's t-shirt said it all, "We had a dream, now it's a reality!" It was especially sweet for him because November 4th was his birthday. He said he REALLY did party.

As far as I am concerned enough cannot be said about the significance of this election. The United States did not just elect a black man ... we elected a black man who is one of the most intelligent men and articulate speakers I have ever seen. I feel privileged to have been able to vote for him in this election.

Whoever is in this position of power needs to have the qualities that I believe Barack Obama possesses. Those qualities include, but are not limited to, intelligence, leadership ability, understanding, & willingness to listen. I think Obama has the potential to make a great president. The world is waiting.

Yes We Can

Thousands of hand-written messages to President-elect Barack Obama fill a 24-foot wide wall between the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008. The tribute was erected by Avaaz.org., an environmental group.

(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

I would love to be in Washington, DC to see this wonderful wall with messages. What a terrific piece of graffiti! Pure love is showing through.

President-Elect Obama's First Press Conference

President-elect Barack Obama (C) answers a question during his first press conference following his election victory in Chicago, November 7, 2008.
REUTERS/Carlos Barria (UNITED STATES)

With his economic team, Vice-President elect Biden, and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel standing behind him Mr. Obama trys to settle the worries of a nation where the jobless rate has reached 6.50 %. The stock market fluctuated during his press conference and went down about 100 points but rallied after the conference closing up 250+ points.

In my estimation his words were measured, soothing, and showing a bipartisan attitude that is needed at this time. He reminded the public that he is not the president and that if the lame-duck administration cannot pass a stimulus package before he takes office in January it will be his first priority.

Nothing earth shattering in this speech, but reassuring in the fact that he is addressing the problem. He will announce his economic cabinet appointment when he has decided. He will be deliberate in his choice and it will be a choice not made in haste. He's already on the job and I am reassured by that.

It's Official ... Barack Obama Wins the United States Presidency!

"This Victory belongs to you."

Fabulous!!! Congratulations America!!!

Election Day!! Will tonight's celebration be even grander?

It’s 4 PM Central time on Election Day 2008. Three more hours until the polls close in Texas. I was at my polling place at 7 AM. By 9:30 AM 213 people had voted, but almost half of registered voters in my county voted early. All the Obama supporters are so absolutely excited and somewhat apprehensive about the outcome of today’s election. Hopefully tonight will end 8 years of Republican direction of the country and a new day will begin!!! All Obama supporters are eagerly awaiting the outcome of today’s elections. Will tonight's celebration be even more grand than that of the convention??

We wait...

Cheryl Visits Democratic Headquarters in Bryson City, NC

On a recent trip to North Carolina I stopped in the Democratic Party Headquarters for a little visit. It is sooo cute. They have decorated it using political signs from the various candidates. They had each candidate come in and decorate their own area some using handmade signs! In the front window there are rows of red shoes reminiscent of the ones Dorothy wore in the Wizard of Oz. The point of this is to send the republican senate candidate (Elizabeth Dole) back to her home state of Kansas.

Note the red shoes in the window...

“Click your heels together Libby and go back to Kansas!”













Cheryl at the Dem Party Headquarters, Bryson City

Why I am a Democrat

In most of Texas being a Democrat is a four-letter word. I feel like a minority although I don't feel discriminated against. As a matter of fact I feel elite. The purpose of this article, which I hope I can keep short, is to clarify why I have chosen to be affiliated with the Democratic party. (Democratic Party Icon from iStockphoto)

I grew up in a small town in Georgia in the 1950s and 60s. By the time I was 10 years old (1956) I had begun to realize the way people were treated. Being in a segregated society I realized that people of color received little respect. I was reprimanded by my mother for saying "yes, ma'am" to an elderly black woman. As a preteen I noticed a clean-cut young black man working the elevators in a department store and commented on how handsome he appeared and was reprimanded about that statement by my father. In the summer I could look out our kitchen door and seen black people loaded into the backs of pickup trucks and trailers being taken out to the fields to pick cotton. These people appeared to get no respect from white people.

As an eighth grader, I disagreed with the social studies teacher when she said that one always votes for the party. One does not pick and choose who to vote for based on the individual. Of course at that time the south was mostly Democratic so she was talking about never voting the Republican ticket. If she were still alive now I'm sure she would have changed her stance on which party to support. At that time I was learning to think for myself so I didn't think any choices should be dictated to me ... I still think that way.

Even though I still weigh the issues, I now realize that it is also the party platform that directs the person on the political ticket. I became a Democrat because of that very reason. The Democratic party is the party of the people ... all the people, not just the wealthy and socially elite, but the middle and lower income Americans as well.

I am concerned about the justices to be appointed to the Supreme Court, about education of all our children (No Child Left Behind has not worked), concerned about health care, Social Security benefits, the economy, global warming, oil dependency and the need for alternative sources of fuel, concerned that we keep Roe vs Wade as law, and concerned our standing and interaction with the rest of the world.

Regarding abortion, I don't know anyone who is FOR abortion, but we need to TEACH appropriate sex practices to our young people. Just saying "choose abstinence" is not enough for everyone. We need education as a viable alternative to abortion; but abortion CANNOT be banned because we have health issues of the mother, rape and incest that may constitute the need for an abortion. Being able to choose is still a necessity.

I believe the Democratic Party is concerned about us middle income citizens, but also is concerned about the fate of the disenfranchised. As a matter of fact, we should all be concerned about those who are not as well off or as educated as we. The fate of our nation depends on what we do to educate and bring those who are less advantaged into the general population. We need to prepare people to have a reason to live an upright life free of crime. The Democratic Party platform addresses the issues that most concern me; therefore I am a Democrat.

For all the reasons above and because I believe Barack Obama will be good for ALL the people in our country, I have chosen to support him for President. His energy, intelligence, and statesmanship is what is needed for American in this new century.

Republican Convention

I listened to the speakers from the Republican convention and was left with something wanting. John McCain's speech was the only one that even began to resemble someone I would want leading our country. In many instances I thought he was sincere. There is no doubt in my mind that he is devoted to our country, but I think he is pandering to the old line Republicans in order to elect him. He indicates he wants to bring change to our political system, but can he really do that? Will the Republicans allow the kind of change McCain wants to bring about?

The things against him in my view are age and judgment. I fear at 72 years of age he is too old for the position. If something happened to him we would have a radical right winger in Sarah Palin to lead our country. For a group of people who were shouting "inexperience" when it came to Barack Obama they are now supporting a very inexperienced woman to run as vice president. I realize the purpose was to draw female voters into the Republican fold since Hillary Clinton is not on the Democratic ticket, but Sarah Palin cannot fill the space just because she is a woman. Therefore, I think McCain lacked good judgment in his selection of an inexperienced woman for VP.