By Dr. Wayne Caswell

January 2005 – I sat comfortably on the sofa as my 17- year-old son, who is a senior in high school, entered the house after a day at school. Instead of going to his room and putting his books down as he usually did, he sat beside me. In a calm and concerned voice, he asked me, “Dad, would you use embryonic stem cells to cure your disease?”

I was amazed by his intelligence and thoughtfulness about the issue. His personal values and character showed deeply by the question. He desired to see my feelings but also to validate his own convictions. 

This was an issue I had thought about and even struggled with over the past few months since it has been a hot topic in the political debates. My answer to him was a reassuring, “No, I can’t take an unborn life to cure my disease.” He left the room without any more discussion. But, I could tell that was the answer he believed was best. 

My story begins in 1999 at the age of 47. I was practicing dentistry when I began to have a twitch and difficulty moving my arm and leg on the left side of my body. I am left handed and this alarmed me especially due to my profession.  After consulting with several specialists over the course of a few months, the diagnosis was made. It was Parkinson’s disease.

This changed my entire outlook on life. Though my wife and four sons have been very supportive, they were understandably concerned about the future.

 I began looking for possible cures. I watched with interest the plight of Michael J. Fox and how he worked tirelessly for Parkinson’s disease research. I listened to [the late] Christopher Reeve and his advocacy for paralysis victims. These are brave men who want to help mankind. However, they have a common theme and that is embryonic stem cell research. 

 A few months ago I was diagnosed with diabetes. Embryonic stem cells have also been indicated for use with diabetes. Embryonic stem cells sounded like a gold mine for me. Then, I began to analyze this option, science, and my Christian faith with its respect for the unborn. I thought about being treated with the stem cells of an aborted fetus. I am revolted at the thought that a human life is created then terminated to be used for me. How selfish am I?

Embryonic stem cell success is only speculative since it is still in the early research stage. How many millions of human lives would have to be sacrificed before any results, if any, are seen? Would there be bio-technical farms set up to grow the fetuses and then harvest them like a crop, each being a human life lost before it could be known? This tells a chilling tale of our respect for human life in general.

As a person who worked in the health care field, I believe in cures, but cures that begin with respect for human life and cures that are based on solid science. There have been many advances in the last five years to make my life better without loss of a human life. Sound scientific principles can be used to reduce the problems of disease. Embryonic stem cells have been shown to cause tumors and have been associated with rejections with no cures being found.

However, the use of adult stem cells has shown promise. These are the stem cells of the individual taken from the nasal tissue, dental pulp, or bone marrow tissues.  These have shown incredible promise for Parkinson’s disease patients and paralysis victims. Adult stem cell research uses the funds wisely in an ethical manner. It uses good science with regard to human life.

I began to think about my situation. I have seen my suffering as the best opportunity for me to grow closer to God. I try to use every day to see the positive events.  It has also strengthened me in my personal regard for life. This is the purpose of pain – to give us a greater awareness of things around us. The past few years have been years of awakening with a realization of the wonderful things God gives us in our time of need. I would never want to think I was so selfish as to want an unborn life to be taken for me to reap the benefits. I must accept my own destiny as each of us should. This is who I am, and the future I have been given is seen not as a punishment but as a reward for living. By acceptance, I am free to enjoy life and the unborn are safe.

My son’s thoughtful question stimulated my own thoughts and validated my  position and others’, I hope. No, I can’t take an unborn life to cure my disease.