LifeBeat for August 2, 2008

David Doyle, spokesperson for the Michigan Citizens Against Unrestricted Science and Experimentation, again talks about a ballot initiative to legalize unrestricted research on human embryos in Michigan. The real strides in treating human beings with stem cells have come from stem cells which don’t require the killing of human embryos. To listen, click here.

LifeBeat for July 26, 2008

David Doyle, spokesperson for Michigan Citizens Against Unrestricted Science and Experimentation, talks about a ballot initiative to amend Michigan’s constitution to allow unrestricted research on human embryos. To listen, click here.

LifeBeat for July 19, 2008

Ed Rivet, legislative director for Right to Life of Michigan, discusses Michigan’s latest attempt to ban partial-birth abortion and Governor Jennifer Granholm’s veto of this legislation. To listen, click here.

New Critical Reading of Jack Lessenberry's Latest Column

We've posted a critical reading of Jack Lessenberry's most recent editorial on embryonic stem cell research which was published in the Traverse City Record-Eagle on July 13, 2008.

Like previous editorials written by Lessenberry, this editorial falsely claims embryonic stem cell research is banned in Michigan.

Jack Lessenberry has been provided with factual information proving that embryonic stem cell research is legal in Michigan, yet he unfortunately continues to mislead his readers by falsely claiming it is banned.

LifeBeat for July12, 2008

Steve Wagner, bio-ethics speaker for Stand to Reason, discusses how finding agreements on certain prolife issues can help us discuss our differences on other prolife issues. He also talks about the importance of being inviting prolife advocates. To listen, click here.

New Web Site from the Michigan Citizens Against Unrestricted Science and Experimentation

A new web site has been launched by the Michigan Citizens Against Unrestricted Science and Experimentation in order to fight the ballot proposal to legalize the unrestricted killing of human embryo for research purposes in Michigan.

The web site discusses how the ballot proposal is deliberately deceptive, does not ban human cloning and permits unrestricted science. The website explains their opposition to the proposal by saying:

The proposed constitutional amendment is bad public policy for Michigan. This misleading proposal is not about stem cell research, this proposal is about the killing of live human embryos for unrestricted and unregulated research. Currently, embryonic stem cell research is taking place in Michigan. Federal tax dollars are used to fund the embryonic stem cell studies at the University of Michigan Center for Human Embryo Stem Cell Research.

Michigan Citizens Against Unrestricted Science & Experimentation Ballot Question Committee (MiCAUSE) will provide accurate information so citizens can be informed about the proposed constitutional amendment to allow unrestricted and unregulated research in Michigan.

LifeBeat for July 5, 2008

Steve Wagner, bio-ethics speaker for Stand to Reason, discusses questions which can help create dialogue on abortion. To listen, click here.

Planned Parenthood's Profits

The following letter to the editor was submitted to the Grand Rapids Press in response to a letter from Katherine Humphrey, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of West and Northern Michigan.

In a recent letter to the editor, Katherine Humphrey attempts to defend her employer, Planned Parenthood, America's largest abortion provider. She claims Planned Parenthood profits from last year "meet the highest standards of fiscal accountability" without mentioning Planned Parenthood made a whopping $114.8 million dollars in profit last year. That's approximately 11% of their revenue. For comparison, Exxon-Mobil's record profits in the final fiscal quarter of 2007 were 10% of their quarterly revenue. Planned Parenthood is one of the most profitable "non-profits" in the world as their profits (income over their expenses) are in the tens of millions of dollars every single year. Their profits were also boosted by the more than $300 million in tax dollars they received from the government.

Humphrey also claims she's proud to be a part of Planned Parenthood's "efforts" to prevent abortion. Planned Parenthood is America's #1 abortion provider. They committed 289,750 abortions in 2006. While the number of abortions being performed nationwide has dropped significantly in recent years, the number of abortions committed at Planned Parenthood has increased dramatically (they performed under 200,000 abortions in 2000). They now commit approximately 1/4 of all U.S. abortions. Planned Parenthood claiming they want less abortions is like Exxon-Mobil claiming they want people to use less gas.

LifeBeat for June 28, 2008

Steve Wagner, bioethics speaker for Stand to Reason, talks about the importance of prolifers using questions to create a dialogue with pro-choice individuals. To listen, click here.

LifeFacts - Painful Genetic Skin Disease Corrected after Bone Marrow Transplant

Two year old Nate Liao, afflicted with a fatal genetic skin disease, appears to have been cured after undergoing a cord blood and bone marrow transplant. The painful disease “causes the skin to fall off at the slightest touch and inevitably leads to cancer.” Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bulosa (RDEB) patients lack a certain type of collagen which renders the skin very delicate. The children must have their entire body continuously wrapped in bandages and may succumb to infections. The lining of their gastrointestinal tract is so fragile the slightest morsel of food can tear and blister the lining of the esophagus, making it very hard to eat and keep food down. After the experimental surgery was conducted at the University of Minnesota in October of 2007, Nate not only began to eat regular table food for the first time but is demanding pork chops and Doritos.

This is proof that stem cells derived from bone marrow can effectively differentiate to treat not only blood diseases but this rare incurable skin disease. Bone marrow specialist Dr. John Wagner said, “ Maybe we can take one more disorder off the incurable list.”

For more information, click here.

LifeBeat for June 21, 2008

Pamela Sherstad, public information director for Right to Life of Michigan, talks about the recent decrease in the number of abortions in Michigan. Abortions in Michigan are at their lowest level since the state began recording abortion statistics. She also talks about ways to help decrease the number of abortions. To listen, click here.

LifeBeat for June 12, 2008

Kaitlin Schmitz, winner of Right to Life of Michigan’s Prolife Youth Award, talks about her work in the prolife movement and the importance of young people being involved in defending human life. To listen, click here.

LifeFacts - Could the cure for Parkinson's be right under our nose?

Those afflicted with Parkinson's lack a certain chemical called dopamine, which is produced in the brain. The resulting loss of muscle control can be temporarily relieved for some patients through drug therapies, however there is still no cure.

Researchers in Australia simulated Parkinson's disease in the brains of laboratory rats, which made the rats run in circles. The afflicted rats were then injected with stem cells which were extracted and cultured from the nasal cavity of Parkinson's patients. The rats re-gained their ability to run in a straight line. Prof. Alan Mackay-Sim from the National Centre for Adult Stem Cell Research who led the study, said that this proves that the adult stem cells differentiated into dopamine-producing neurons. None of the transplants formed tumors in the rats, as had similar models using embryonic stem cells.

The undifferentiated stem cells from the olfactory nerve in the nose, are influenced by the environment they are injected into. In this case, they were transplanted into the brain and became dopamine producing brain cells.

For more information, click here.

LifeBeat for June 7, 2008

Dr. Don Condit talks about his efforts to change the Michigan State Medical Society’s position on embryonic stem cell research from a position which favored killing human embryos to its current neutral position. To listen, click here.

New Critical Reading of Dr. Mel Lester's Embryonic Stem Cell Editorial

We've posted a critical reading of Dr. Mel Lester's "Embryonic Stem Cell Research Offers Hope" editorial which was published on the June 1, 2008 in the Lansing State Journal. In his editorial, Dr. Lester makes a number of highly misleading and untruthful claims about embryonic stem cell research.

Partial Birth Abortion Ban Passes Michigan House by a Vote of 74-32

On the evening of May 27, 2008, the Michigan House of Representatives voted 74-32 to pass S.B. 776, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. This legislation is modeled after the federal ban on partial-birth abortion and would make it a felony to perform a partial-birth abortion in Michigan. S.B. 776 was passed in the Michigan Senate by a vote of 24-13 in January of 2008.

S.B. 776 will now be sent to Governor Granholm. Once it reaches her desk, she will have 14 days to either sign it, veto it, or allow it to take effect without her signature.

More information on this legislation can be found online here.

LifeBeat for May 31, 2008

Dr. Ken Edwards talks about the current events regarding efforts to coerce prolife doctors into referring women to abortion providers. He also discusses what people can do to help make sure prolife doctors aren’t forced into violating their consciences. To listen, click here.

Michigan’s Abortions Decrease in 2007 to the Lowest Number on Record

According to statistics released May 22, 2008, from the Michigan Department of Community Health, the number of abortions performed in Michigan decreased in 2007. The report from the Michigan Department of Community Health states that 24,683 abortions were performed in Michigan during 2007 compared to 25,636 Michigan abortions in 2006, a drop of 3.7 percent or 953 abortions . Since 1987, there has been a 49.7 percent decrease in the number of abortions performed in Michigan annually. Abortions in Michigan have decreased three of the last four years and the total from 2007 represents the lowest number of reported abortions in Michigan since reporting began in 1979.

For more information, click here.

LifeBeat for May 24, 2008

Dr. Ken Edwards discusses a recent opinion on the limits of conscience from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and its suggestion that prolife doctors should refer women for abortions. To listen, click here.

LifeFacts - Multiple Sclerosis Patient Treated with Own Adult Stem Cells

Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 1995, Barry Goudy self-administered weekly injections and suffered flu-like symptoms that would last all weekend. The side effects of the medication changed his personality by causing him to become irritable and his quality of life gradually deteriorated. He gained weight, felt bloated and acquired Bell's Palsy which damaged his optic nerve, blurring his vision. With continued use, he eventually became immune to the medication.

Barry happened upon a study at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago using experimental stem cell research. In May of 2003 Barry's stem cells were harvested and cultured. In July, he received the adult stem cell transplant. After 4 months he went back to work, symptom free. This coming July, Barry will be celebrating his 5th year free from any symptoms of MS and is looking forward to an active life of playing racquetball, golf and coaching hockey.

For more information, click here.

LifeBeat for May 17, 2008

Paul Etterling, author of Genuine Faith and the Test of Love, provides advice for parents who receive an adverse prenatal diagnosis and how the prolife movement can reach out to people who are facing an adverse prenatal diagnosis. To listen, click here.

Michigan State Medical Society goes neutral on killing human embryos for research

Thanks to the work of prolife physicians and prolife legislators, the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) has changed their position on embryonic stem cell research. Since 2003, the MSMS, which represents more than 14,000 physicians in Michigan, had an official position which favored embryonic stem cell research. During a recent gathering, the members of the MSMS adopted a neutral position on human embryonic stem cell research and will provide its membership with more information on the issue over the next year.

Read Representative Kevin Green's letter, signed by 55 additional State House Members, to the Michigan State Medical Society.

LifeBeat for May 10, 2008

Paul Etterling, author of Genuine Faith and the Test of Love, discusses the short life of his son David who had anencephaly, a neural tube defect with a 100% fatality rate. Paul and his wife were able to celebrate the life of their son even though he lived for only a short time. To listen, click here.

LifeFacts - Systemic Scleroderma successfully treated with patient's own stem cells

Amy Daniels at the age of 37 was afflicted with scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease known to "turn people into stone." It affects the connective tissue in the body, rendering skin and organs hard and thick. Amy's face became so taut that it affected her appearance, her speech and her ability to chew and close her mouth. The skin on her hands became so tight that her fingers were fixed in a claw like position. Her digestive tract became so inflamed that she lost her ability to eat. Her lungs went from a 90% breathing capacity to 43% in a few short months.

Amy was introduced to a doctor who offered her an unbelievable treatment. First her own stem cells were collected and stored. She was then given chemotherapy and medicine to wipe out her immune system. Her own stem cells were reinfused and began the healing process.

Just 6 months after her transplant, Amy was able to go back to work. She can cross her fingers, make a fist, lift her arms over her head, open her mouth, button her buttons, fix her daughter's hair, go up a flight of stairs and chase the kids around the park. There is no cure for Sclerodoerma, but through the use of her own stem cells, Amy has hope for a bright future.

For more information, click here.

Skip the flowers and boxes of candy -- make a lasting gift to LIFE in honor of a special woman.

Mother's Day gives us an opportunity to not only thank our mothers, but also a chance to thank those women who have made a difference in our lives. Right to Life of Michigan would like to give you an opportunity to honor a special woman. We have created an on-line Honor Page so that women can be recognized.

By giving a small donation to the Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund, you too can add a name to the Mother's Day Honor Page. If you would like, we will notify that special someone that a donation has been made in her honor and that her name has been added to our Mother's Day Honor Page.