Yesterday, I listened to an interesting podcast on fetal cells (http://www.radiolab.org/blogs/radiolab-blog/2012/apr/30/fetal-consequences/). In it, researchers discussed how living fetal cells remain in their mother's body essentially for the rest of her life. While the verdict is still out on what these cells do in the body after the baby is born, one of the more poetic theories is that they help her body heal itself when it is damaged. There is a story of one woman whose hepatitis was cured by the fetal cells left behind by her many pregnancies. The cells banded together and transformed themselves into liver-like cells and patched up her tissue damage. Of course, we'd all love to think that a part of us could help cure the ills of our parents.
Since it's a far more complicated picture than simply healing, however, I guess I'll have to take comfort in less direct ways of helping to cure my mom's disease. We have raised almost $600 in a mere 2 weeks to support NMO research. That's an amazing start, and I'd like to thank those of you who have donated: the Hertzes, the Ford-Hertz clan, my parents, the Seabrights, Karen, and the van Druffs. We still have over $2000 to go and just over a week to do it. So please, if you have the means to make a donation, any amount helps us get to our goal and helps find a cure for my mom's disease. As with the microscopic fetal cells, every little bit helps.
Please visit http://www.guthyjacksonfoundation.org/donate/tribute-donations, and be sure to write, "In honor of Patti Lellock" when you do.
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