Cerebral palsy (CP) occurs in about every 1 out of 34,000 persons in any country. Recently, though, cases have been rising lately of babies being born and later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Though doctors can’t say for certain what causes this disease, poor maternal care is being pointed at as the main culprit, although the data gathered has proven it to still be inconclusive as of now.
So why is cerebral palsy a big deal then? If you are a father or mother trying to establish a family in these times, you should understandably be worried. Most cases of CP start out in a congenital fashion, so even infants who are affected by it can characteristically show early signs of it. Among other things, this may be the worst that could happen to your child. And the bad news is it that it is supposed to be permanent, with treatment only focusing on alleviating the person’s discomfort. But even though the condition affects the rest of the musculoskeletal system, some people can function pretty well under these circumstances.
For evidence, just look at Dr. Stephen Hawking, one of the most eminent and respected physicists of this or any other generation. And he has even achieved that honor without ever leaving the confines of his wheelchair. Ultimately, though, these people may have to resign themselves to the fact that they are just meant to be this way. But thanks to the advances of medical science, a possible cure may be possible for cerebral palsy, and it has something to do with the burgeoning and nascent field of stem cell therapy.
What exactly is “stem cell”? Also called as a pluripotential stem cell, it is a naturally occurring formative cell inside our bodies. It has the ability to divide itself and also spawn “daughter” cells, which in turn, can also give rise to other cell types. Through this process, it has the potential to develop into several different types of mature cells like hematopoietic or blood stem cells, which include lymphocytes, granulocytes, thrombocytes, and erythrocytes. Other than that, it encourages other relative and adjacent cells to “clump” together and form tissues, whole organs, or even a whole system.
If you have to base the importance of a stem cell through a single statement, then you have to look no further than the sentence that preceded this one. Yes, it really sounds exciting and romantic; imagine, a brand new science where it can immediately distinguish itself by the good that it does for persons affected with nervous and musculoskeletal disorders. However, hard facts have to be considered first. When people say that this is a “new” therapy, it really indeed is a “new” therapy. The continuous research done on stem cell and its potential benefits is still ongoing, but the technology to obtain the desired and irrefutable results means that it can possibly take some years before someone comes up with the “breakthrough” discovery that will immediately dispel any doubts some parties may have on the legitimacy of stem cell therapy.
The bottom line is this: if you have to speak for or against stem cell therapy, you may have to study the “pros and cons” of it first before you can safely assume the knowledge that you may need. After all, everyone’s future children are at stake here.
