Christmas a little brighter for child(sight restored after receiving stem-cell transplants in China)

[Kadie]

Published December 23, 2007 12:11 am - WEBB CITY, Mo.


Christmas a little brighter for child
By Wally Kennedy


WEBB CITY, Mo. — Rylea Barlett has had Christmas trees in her home before. But this year is different.

Rylea, a totally blind child whose vision was restored by a stem-cell transplant, can do more than feel her tree now. She can see it.

“She never paid any attention to the trees we have had before,” said her mother, Dawn Barlett. “Now, when she comes home from school, she stands in front of the tree for a couple of hours every night.

“She touches the tree, and is fascinated by the lights and ornaments.”

snip...
The 6-year-old girl traveled to China in early July where she received five stem-cells transplants in an experimental study. The stem cells were from umbilical cords. It is not clear yet whether Rylea will eventually develop functional vision. But before the stem cells, she had nothing. She can now see light and make out images.

snip...
“She went to be fitted for glasses,” her mother said. “When the glasses were on her face, she turned and looked in the mirror. She said, ‘Oh! She is so cute.’

more...
http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_357001135.html

Here is a picture of her..

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/images_sizedimage_357001154/xl
Globe/T. Rob Brown Rylea Barlett gets an up-close view of the lights and ornaments on her family’s Christmas tree. Rylea’s sight was restored after receiving stem-cell transplants in China.

[RedCappedBandit]

1. But stem cell research makes jesus cry.

:sarcasm:

[ingac70]

2. Disgusting she had to go to China....

This "science is of the devil" attitude in our government has put this country at a technological disadvantage.

[madrchsod]

3. isn`t america grand!

cheaper treatments in india and china....what a grand country we live in

[pansypoo53219]

4. you'd think

the medical industrial complex would wanna jump on this money train. and force the chimperor to change his stance on them stem cels from EMBRYOS GOING NOWHERE BUT THE GARBAGE CAN.

[Sadie4629]

5. These stem cells were from umbilical cords

It is only embrionic stem cell research that the US government is not funding.

I believe there is actually a lot of research going on here that involves non-embryonic stem cells.

[Dorian Gray]

6. Awww! So happy for the little girl

Remember, though, these were umbilical stem cells. This article has nothing to do with Fetal Stem Cells. I think the biggest travesty, however, is that she had to travel to China to get the procedure done.