卡爾Hagan是一位截癱患者(對脊髓的損傷包括兩條腿，通常造成的身體的下半的完全痲痺)自2001年以來。 禁閉對輪椅不能遏制他的精神。 它在少數我們會敢的使命寧可啟發他今後按這個星期。 Hagan意欲滾動自己在一輛供給手工動力的輪椅從Ocala到西海岸籌集了悟和金錢為乾細胞研究。

「我要人知道我不可能做的唯一的事是走」，他說。 「它是重要的我做它，重要對大家在我的情況」。

盛大旅途將開始在上午8點。 在星期四，當Hagan從跨境75離開到頂頭北部在美國。 27往Tallahassee。 他最終將轉動西部跨境10并且跟隨它對加利福尼亞。 3,300英哩艱苦跋涉應該需要85天，轉動40英哩每天和允許10天為惡劣天氣。 如果他做它他將創下一個世界紀錄。

它全部在2月開始了。 26日2001年，當水出租汽車移動大約20個結那天早晨時關上了入小船，在乘客完成了早餐之前。 碰撞殺害了在二個地方和左Hagan的後面打破的小船的所有者，痲痺他從中腹部下來。

「您不可能想像您的一生改變在兩三秒鐘」，他說。 「我在椅子坐在小船的後面。 我未曾看它正來到」。

在坦帕綜合醫院他看見被痲痺的孩子奮鬥與他有的同樣問題。

「那真正地命中家庭」，他說。 「我是50; 我可能去這邊我的後半生與此。 但它傷害我孩子不可能是在操場」。

About the same time, Hagan said, he also learned about the intense lobbying by actor Christopher Reeve for more support of stem cell research to cure paralysis and other disorders of the central nervous system. Reeve, known to millions as “Superman” in the movies, turned activist after he broke his neck in a 1995 horse-riding accident that left him paralysed.

When Reeve died in 2004 at age 52 from a systemic infection followed by cardiac arrest, Hagan said, “that’s when I really knew it was time to go.”

To succeed, he must avoid both the fierce heat of summer and freeze of winter, which leaves only two windows for departing: now, or early spring. He is ready now.

The issue of stem cell research has become an increasingly political one, with many scientists and senators lobbying for more funding of research using embryonic cells and conservatives, including President George W. Bush, balking on dubious “moral” grounds.

Hagan said he is interested only in research using therapeutic stem cells, meaning nonembryonic cells derived from adults or umbilical cords. He is not interested in turning his trip into a political statement, he said, although he acknowledges the inevitable overtones. He believes the issue will resurface prominently in the next presidential election. So do I.

For now his mind is on the open road. “I think I will do it,” he said. “In my heart, I know I will do it.”

I hope he succeeds and so does the push to fund and progress stem cell research. Lots of life depend on it.

Source: Ocala.com

Filed under Advocacy, Spinal Cord Injury, Stem Cell |