Late on Thursday afternoon, I answered my phone and found myself being asked by the office of Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) to speak at a press conference on the following afternoon. The senator, two leading scientists in the field of stem cell research, visiting Iowa Senator Tom Harkin and myself were to speak at the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center. Before I could accept, I needed to move a couple of things around on my schedule, and, in the middle of that task, I realized the magnitude of what I would be saying “yes" to.



Multiple sclerosis is overwhelmingly prevalent in my area of the country. In fact, it is stated that a child born and raised in the Pacific Northwest is more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with MS in his/her lifetime than any other child in America. It made perfect sense to have someone with MS speak to the press about this topic. Many other disease groups, however, could benefit from potential treatments derived from said research. I was going to be the only patient advocate (from any group) to speak that day. I started to realize that I’d have to speak from more than a MS point of view at this venue. I was looking at a pretty daunting responsibility. Could I live up to it?

As most of you know, President George W. Bush’s first and only veto was recently used on the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. This was one of the topics the senators wanted to talk about in addition to the general lack of funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

We have discussed that issue in previous blogs as well as the stem cell issue.

What struck me the most in my time with the senators and other expert speakers was their effort to talk about these issues and theire legislative priority. I found that whether you vote Republican, Democrat, Independent or simply for the person running, these two elected officials are truly passionate about the issue of healthcare and government funding for important medical research. I was proud to know these two people were representing their states and our cause in Washington, D.C.

For you Iowans, know that I have a new respect for your senior senator.

We may not always agree here at the “Life with MS" blog when it comes to things like politics, religion or research ethics. However, what I think we can and do agree to is that the more people that know about our situation (particularly if some of those people have political authority) the better off we could be in the future. I made that my goal when I spoke on Friday.

I don’t know if I lived up to my responsibilities that day. I do, however, know that I’ll make sure that all of my elected representatives know where I stand on the issues when they go to vote upon them.

Do your elected officials know how you feel about these issues? Do they know that you, as one of their constituents, are living with MS? If they do, you never know whose call you might be taking at the eleventh hour…

Wishing you and your family the best of health.