6 y/o child who received fetal stem-cells on way home for Hanukkah

[elehhhhna]

Monday, Dec. 11, 2006

Child who received stem cells from aborted fetus on way home
By PAUL ELIAS AP Biotechnology Writer

(AP) - SAN FRANCISCO-Daniel Kerner's parents knew the experimental brain surgery was risky, but without it the 6-year-old would surely die.

Last month in Portland, Oregon, doctors for the first time transplanted stem cells from aborted fetuses into his head in a desperate bid to reverse, or at least slow, a rare genetic disorder called Batten disease. The so-far incurable condition normally results in blindness and paralysis before death.

Doctors do not know if the neural stem cells taken from fetuses - donated to a nonprofit medical foundation by women aborting early-stage pregnancies - will save Daniel's life. But the boy has sufficiently recovered from his 8-hour surgery to be expected to return to his Orange County, California, home on Friday for the first night of Hanukkah.

"We don't think that is a coincidence," said Marcus Kerner, who said a deep faith in Judaism and long hours of prayer prompted the family to volunteer Daniel for the risky procedure. Daniel was diagnosed two years ago and has since lost the ability to walk and talk. Daniel is the first volunteer of an experiment that plans to operate on five more afflicted children over the next year.

http://news.findlaw.com/ap/o/51/12-12-2006/5c1400269ae8f872.html

[kikiek]

1. Good news that there is some hope for this devastating disease. I hope

there is some followup posted someday. I believe it is a recessive genetic disorder. I can't imagine seeing your children go through it.