subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Sat, Jul 04 2009 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
email this story   E-mail this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Photos


Globe/David Stonner Five-year-old Rylea Barlett, who has optic nerve hypoplasia and cannot see, follows along in class at the Madge T. James Kindergarten Center in Webb City by reading via a Braille machine. Rylea’s mother, Dawn Barlett, hopes stem-cell injections will correct her daughter’s blindness. Brenda Forsythe (left) is Rylea’s teacher.
Joplin Globe Photo /

Published January 09, 2007 12:45 am - People who found themselves on opposite sides of one of the most controversial ballot issues in Missouri in recent years praised the announcement over the weekend of a possible alternative to the use of embryonic stem cells.

'It sounds really hopeful'



By Andy Ostmeyer

aostmeyer@joplinglobe.com

People who found themselves on opposite sides of one of the most controversial ballot issues in Missouri in recent years praised the announcement over the weekend of a possible alternative to the use of embryonic stem cells.

Keith Martin, of Joplin, and Dawn Barlett, of Webb City, have looked carefully at the issues involving stem-cell use — Barlett for her daughter and Martin for his late wife.

Yet, they reached different conclusions during the debate on Amendment 2, with Martin among the 49 percent who voted against it in November and Barlett joining the 51 percent in favor of it. But on Monday, both welcomed the news that stem cells taken from amniotic fluid may hold the same promise as embryonic stem cells, avoiding many of the ethical, moral and religious issues.

“It sounds really hopeful,” said Martin, whose wife, Amy, used her own stem cells and later stem cells from a donor after she was diagnosed with leukemia. Amy Martin died in 2005. Martin said his wife never would have considered the use of embryonic stem cells because she believed that would have violated the sanctity of human life.

Martin said everything he has heard about amniotic stem cells leads him to believe that the technique might make a better alternative.

“It’s not a moral question. There are no ethical questions,” he said.

Barlett’s daughter, Rylea, 5, suffers from optic nerve hypoplasia — a condition she was born with — and was one of the cases promoted by advocates of Amendment 2 in the fall.

Barlett said she plans to travel to China with Rylea for transplants of umbilical stem cells. Each injection, Barlett said, has 10 million stem cells in it.

“She sees nothing,” Barlett said of her daughter. “She is completely blind. No light perception. Nothing.”

Even Rylea’s pediatric ophthalmologists have said there is little they can do for her in this country. Barlett said China and other countries in Asia do not have many of the same regulations. Barlett said there are no guarantees that the procedure will work. She said Rylea will be the first person in the world who is completely blinded by optic nerve hypoplasia and who will receive this type of stem-cell treatment.

The Barletts were active in the campaign of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, which promoted Amendment 2. They wanted to put Rylea’s face on the issue, Barlett said, so voters had a better understanding of the issue.

On Sunday, researchers from Wake Forest University and Harvard University reported that amniotic fluid donated by pregnant women may hold the same promise as embryonic stem cells, but without harming the mother or the fetus. The stem cells from amniotic fluid would be turned into several different types of tissue, including brain, bone and nerve tissue. The scientists said preliminary tests on patients for amniotic stem-cell therapies could be years away.

Patients such as Rylea are receiving the benefits of earlier work with umbilical and adult stem cells, but the treatments are expensive. Barlett estimates that the three trips that may be necessary to China, beginning in July, could cost as much as $150,000 to $200,000 overall. The family, which does not have insurance, has begun raising money to help with the costs.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story





monster
autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Click here!!

We Blog!
We Pod Cast!

We Twitter!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!

TV LIsitngs



Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!
Featured Jobs

CNA AND CMT
CNA AND CMT Joplin Healthcare Center is looking for CMT for day 12 hour shift. Also a CNA for night 12 hours shift. Exc...>MORE

UP IN FLAMES
WOOD FIRE PIZZA AND PASTA now hiring MANAGERS, SERVERS, BARTENDER Apply 1612 S. Madison, Webb City, behind Subway...>MORE

REVETER WANTED
EXPERIENCED for brake manufacturing. Please apply in person at 3215 E. 20th, Joplin, MO. ...>MORE

TEAMS NEEDED

SIGN-ON BONUS $3000
Benefits and West Coast
$$ Scheduled Raises $$
HIGH MILES WEEKLY
72hrs
...>MORE

MEDICAL OFFICE
seeking Insurance Clerk. Coding experience required. Will pay for experience. Benefits. Send resume: Globe Box 94, 117 E...>MORE

DELIVERY DRIVER
We have a full time position open for a delivery driver. Position consists of working part time in the warehouse in addi...>MORE

GROWING DENTAL PRACTICE
looking for experienced Dental Assistant. Computer knowledge a must. Resumes: 2710 Picher, Joplin, MO 64804. Deadline by...>MORE

OLIVE GARDEN

Now accepting applications Line Cooks, Dishwashers, and Lunch Servers
Interviewing 2-4 p.m. Monday through Fr
...>MORE

LOCAL DRILLING COMPANY
needs a rock driller. Must have experience in hydraulics. Company vehicle provided. (417)662-7267...>MORE

MED TECH SUPERVISOR
Med TECH SUPERVISOR Excellent Salary and Benefits
Apply in person or send resume: Nevada Medical Clinic
Atte
...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

GMC, 2006
2500 4x4, regular cab/bed, 133,000 miles, $9850. (417)214-0022....>MORE

1932 FORD
5 window, coupe, glass body rolling chassis, torch thrust, 2 wheels, etc, $18,000. (417)781-1932, or 417-437-9942...>MORE

1999 CHEVROLET TAHOE
2 door, 2 wheel drive, barn door rear, lowered, custom paint/grill/wheels, asking $5500. (417)781-1932, or cell (417)437...>MORE

2006 CHEVROLET HHR LT
automatic, 40,000 miles, loaded with options, $6200. (417)434-2949....>MORE

NEED 2 DRIVERS
with 3 years plus $ miles with turn arounds back to Joplin, MO. Home often. 417-325-7320....>MORE

LEHMAN TRIKE
LEHMAN TRIKE, 2007, excellent condition, rider has health problems. $20,500. Serious inquires only. (417)529-9554....>MORE

YAMAHA 1999 ROAD STAR
Yamaha, 1999 Road Star 1600 excellent condition, less than 10,000 miles, saddle bags and highway lamps. $3500. Cell phon...>MORE

2005 HONDA SHADOW VLX 600
2,000 miles, color white, $3950. (417)673-3860....>MORE

MAZDA, 2000
B3000, 4x2, V6, automatic, high miles, $2150. (417)843-2613....>MORE

FORD 2001 ESCORT
FORD, 2001 Escort, 4 cylinder, automatic, good condition. $1800. (417)437-5682....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

HANDYMAN SPECIAL
Handyman Special, only $500 down, owner financing, 11% interest, $345/ month, priced at $23,900. 1120 W. 12th Street (41...>MORE

OPEN HOUSE
OPEN HOUSE 7/5/09 1:00-4:00 2281 sq. ft. Updated kitchen 4 br + bonus room 2 living areas Metal roof. Stapleton school ...>MORE

2-3 BR
Basement, newly remodeled, oak cabinets, nice wood floors, privacy fence. $79,200. 2525 N. Ozark. (417)483-0900....>MORE

LAKE FRONT MOBILE
Lake Front Mobile Grove, OK 1972 14 X 46 1 Bedroom, 1 bath lake front mobile home weekend getaway. Complete with furn...>MORE

INVESTORS OR START-UP
INVESTORS OR START-UP 1217 Central. $67500 2 bedroom, 1 bath, very nice,room to build more. See more at homesbyowner.co...>MORE

OWNER FINANCE
OWNER FINANCE. $650 down, $435 monthly. 201 N. Washington, Joplin, 3 BR, garage, Full price $32,500. 417-359-4113. ...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

NASCAR
Indy Brick Yard 400, 7/26/09,
2 at $90. 417-483-1460.
...>MORE

ANTIQUE RADIO
ANTIQUE Radio; hanging lamps; china cabinet; carnival glass; Singer featherweight machine; 2 ladies and men diamond ring...>MORE

LAB MIX
black female, spayed, 3 years old, and 2 puppies, male/female, up to date vet care, $35 each. Refundable with proof of s...>MORE

AMPLIFIER
1953 Gibson BHR, $250. (417)437-9942....>MORE

ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE
realitives of late father, Aziel Murphy, who married Maxine Steele, of Oklahoma, on June 10, 1929. Contact Tresa Collins...>MORE

LAB PUPPIES
lab puppies, AKC 1 chocolate male 1 chocolate female 1 black male 1 black female Master, senior, and junior hunters on ...>MORE

PATTERN TORCH
Industrial, $500. (417)781-1932....>MORE

MINI SCHNAUZERS
8 weeks AKC house breaking underway, vet checked/healthy. rsfieker@yahoo.com 417-235-3168....>MORE

LOST: 10 YEAR OLD YELLOW LAB

Goldie has on a flea collar, lost 6/28 between Oak Grove and Tipton Ford. PLEASE call 417-438-2828.
...>MORE

24' BAJA OUTLAW
24’ BAJA Outlaw beautiful closed bow boat, 454 Mag, all options, excellent condition, low hours with 2005 trailer, $16,0...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition