Other than being spectacularly flat, my feet gave me no trouble for my first 72 years. True, when I stepped out of water, the tracks my feet left would be completely filled in — no arch. And the noise of my footfalls was “flop flop flop!”, like walking in swimfins. I was even told, when
No one can fully understand another person’s pain. Before my son’s accident, I thought people in a wheelchair just sat down a lot. I had no idea of the endless quiet agonies and frustrations they endure. But at least people notice the wheelchair — what if a person looked utterly healthy, young, slender, beautiful —
In the middle of the night, I was wakened by a soft “pop” inside my head, like the bursting of a bubble wrap. And the strangest thing — I could see the individual letters of the words of my thoughts, writing themselves. Like: I t-h-i-n-k s-o-m-e-t-h-i-n-g i-s w-r-o-n-g i-n-s-i-d-e m-y h-e-a-d… I poked Gloria beside me, and
Imagine a government program that attracts money, instead of just spending it… The California stem cell program does exactly that. Technically titled the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) the program has spent approximately $2.6 billion since its beginning. But from other sources, the program has brought in $1.9 billion — and more is almost certainly
A long-time medical technologist and former faculty member at UCSF, Bill Remak has his fair share of experience with the medical research industry. He has also battled chronic Hepatitis C (HCV), survived two liver transplants and a bout with cancer, and now is a Type 2 diabetic. In short, Bill is well acquainted with the
Lauren Miller Rogen may be best known for her work as a writer and an actor, but she is also a powerhouse advocate, founding the organization Hilarity for Charity. Americans for Cures recently sat down to talk with Lauren about her journey as an advocate for Alzheimer’s research and why an advocate’s voice can make
Diane Winokur is a true champion. Even in her mid-80’s, she not only speaks with confidence about her hope for the future of ALS, but she is continuing her advocacy for this disease with relentless strength. I mean, how many 80 year olds do you know who can courageously pour a bucket of ice on
Without Don Reed, the stem cell voice in California would not be what it is today. Don’s journey in stem cell advocacy began almost twenty years ago with California’s Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act of 1999- an initiative named after his son who was paralyzed in a football accident. Don later served on
When Dianne Keaton took her blouse off in the movie THE FAMILY STONE, I was quite happy for a second — a major movie star undressing? And then, in an instant, the mood changed. I jerked back in my theater seat, and made a soundless inward scream. Her breasts were gone. In their place was a short
