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Diabetes Victim Sides with Democrats on Stem Cells
Karen Lincoln Michel
Green Bay Press-Gazette
09 June 2006
David Strom struggles with a cruel irony of diabetes that happens when neuropathy leaves his hands partially limp, but with enough life in them to feel extreme pain.
"At night it feels like someone is breaking my fingers," said Strom, 35, an Appleton man who was first diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at 8.
Through three kidney transplants and a pancreas transplant, Strom has held out hope for a breakthrough in medical science. He said he believes research into human embryonic stem cells holds keys to alleviating his suffering, if not curing juvenile and adult-onset diabetes, a disease that afflicts an estimated 20.8 million Americans.
"I'd be able to regain some of my life," said Strom, who will participate in a press conference today about the need for stem-cell research, and will be featured at the Democratic State Convention, which opens today in La Crosse.
As Strom shares his story and his support for stem-cell research, he becomes part of an issue that Democrats in various states nationwide are claiming as their own this election year because of its ability to resonate with families yet divide Republicans on moral grounds.
To emphasize his commitment to such research, Gov. Jim Doyle has arranged for the mother of a diabetic child to introduce him before his keynote address at the convention tonight.
"Gov. Doyle understands the vast promise of stem-cell research to find cures for terrible diseases," said Doyle's campaign spokeswoman Melanie Fonder. "And as governor he will do everything he can to ensure that Wisconsin remains the leader in stem research."
Fonder said Doyle's Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Hobart, "wants to shut it down."
Green responded on Thursday, "I find that extremely offensive ... and it's offensive to a lot of families for whom this is not a partisan campaign issue."
Green said he has co-sponsored legislation to dramatically increase funding for stem-cell research, and supported funding that created the national stem-cell bank in Madison.
While Doyle supports research into human embryonic stem cells, Green stands with President Bush on his policy to work with existing adult stem-cell lines.
"I just don't believe we should create life solely for the purpose of destroying it or exploiting it," Green said. He said strides can be made in stem-cell research "without abandoning our moral compass."
Apart from the potential for scientific advances of stem-cell research, Wisconsin Democrats also are touting its possible economic impact on the state.
"Stem-cell research could be the key to the economy in Wisconsin in the future, let alone curing diseases like Parkinson's, cancer and heart disease," said Joe Wineke, chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. "Wisconsin could become the Silicon Valley of the country over bio-technology."
Wisconsin already has a national reputation in bio-science, and drew global attention in 1998 when James Thomson, a developmental biologist and veterinarian at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, became the first scientist to isolate and culture human embryonic stem cells.
Ian Duncan, professor of medical sciences at UW-Madison, said Wisconsin is one of three states, including California and Massachusetts, with leading reputations in the field.
"There's no doubt that developing new ideas and new patents and off-shoots that create start-up companies could have a huge economic impact," said Duncan. "Venture capitalists are waiting for some of these discoveries to be made for them to put more money into it. There's no reason why it couldn't be in Madison and at UW-Madison."
For Jane Oie, the mother of David Strom, hope for her son is what she seeks most.
"This seems like the brightest light for us," she said.
Oie, who considered herself an Independent most of her life, said she admires former First Lady Nancy Reagan for stepping outside her Republican ideology to advocate for embryonic stem-cell research.
I guess when something affects you, that's where you're drawn," said Oie, whose 59-year-old husband has Parkinson's disease and would also benefit from scientific breakthroughs. "Until you walk in those shoes, like they say, you don't really understand."
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