Editorial

Just before Christmas in 2004, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA) died in a tragic fire at St. Joseph Parish in Kellnersville, Wis. But when parish liturgist Sr. Joleen Van Dyke died, a part of her continued to live on, giving hope and life to families she probably never knew.

That's because Sister Joleen shared her life with others by leaving a "legacy of life" through organ donation. She was able to greatly improve the quality of life for two patients in the end stages of kidney failure.

Through the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Organ Procurement Organization, one of Sister Joleen's kidneys was transplanted into a patient in Indiana. That person had been on the transplant waiting list since September of 2004. The second kidney patient - from Wisconsin - had been on the waiting list since May of 2004.

With Sister Joleen's kidneys - donated through her compassion and concern for others - these two people are enjoying a better life. A certificate signed by Governor Jim Doyle was presented to Sister Joleen's family recognizing her gift and the special place she will hold in the hearts of other individuals, their families and friends.

Thousands await transplants. More than 86,000 men, women, and children currently await life-saving transplants. Every 13 minutes another name is added to the national transplant waiting list. Sadly, an average of 17 people die each day from the lack of available organs for transplant.

Yet, there are many success stories like Sister Joleen's. In 2003, for example, more than 46,000 cornea transplants were performed. There were over 900,000 tissue transplants in that year and 25,459 organ transplants.

I urge concerned citizens to consider becoming an organ donor. Just one donor can save or improve up to 50 lives!

Become a donor. It is very easy to become an organ donor. Do as I've done and sign the anatomical gift statement on the back of your driver's license. You can indicate "any organs or parts" or specify certain ones. Also paste a bright orange "organ donor" sticker on the front of your license.

Although signing your driver's license is a legal document, it is also suggested that donors discuss their plans with family members. To ensure that your family understands your wishes, it is important to share your decision to donate with them.

All major religions, including the Catholic Church, support organ donation. In fact, Pope John Paul II encouraged Catholics to consider organ donation.

People of all ages can be considered for organ, tissue, and eye donation. Don't think you are too old to be a donor. Be assured that funeral arrangements can proceed as planned with organ, tissue, and/or eye donation. There is no cost for donation to the organ donor's family and designated donors receive the best possible medical care.

I hope I've convinced you to consider sharing your life after death by becoming an organ, tissue, or eye donor. For more information, visit www.shareyourlife.org

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

	Mailbag policy We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Limit letters to 200 words or less. All letters must be signed. Please include your city or town of residence. Send letters to: Mailbag The Catholic Herald P.O. Box 44985 Madison, WI 53744-4985 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

Spend money on adult stem cells

To the editor:

There is much news these days about stem cells and sometimes we get confused by the information presented. A stem cell is a special kind of cell that has the unique capacity to reproduce itself over a long period of time, and given the right conditions or signals, can give rise to different specialized cell types. There are two types of stem cells currently being used in scientific experimentation:

Embryonic stem cells are taken from living human embryos. When experiments are done using embryonic stems cells, a human life is destroyed in the process. One expert noted that if 10,000 embryos were thawed for research purposes, there would be only 100 that are viable to create stem cell lines.

Adult stem cells are taken from blood, umbilical cord blood, fat tissue, bone marrow, cornea, and retina of the eye, dental pulp, liver, skin, the linings of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, and brain. Scientists have already become quite skilled at turning adult stem cells into a variety of seemingly unrelated cells. Human adult stem cells have been transformed into cartilage, muscle, bone, cardiac tissues, neural cells, liver tissues, and blood vessels.

Adult stem cells have been in clinical use for many years. Bone marrow transplants are one example. Adult stem cells have been successfully used on human persons to treat over 56 conditions, including brain and other cancers, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, sickle cell anemia, stroke, limb gangrene, corneal regeneration, heart damage, Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord injury.

Embryonic stem cells have not been used to treat one person. There are no human trials because embryonic stem cells grow uncontrollably and would cause tumors if put into a human person. There is also a rejection factor because embryonic stem cells come from a separate human being, just as if you had received an organ transplant from another individual.

This information was supplied by Dr. David Prentice, a nationally known stem-cell research expert who is an outspoken member of the scientific community and a leading voice objecting to the destructive use of human embryos.

Tax dollars should only be spent on adult stem-cell research since the potential for cures is so dramatic.

Vince Metcalf, Montello

Parishioners thank Father Okere

To the editor:

Today the parishioners of St. Patrick Parish of Lodi bid farewell to Fr. Nicholas Okere. It was a sad, happy time with the usual difficult farewells. As members of the St. Patrick's Bible Study Group, we would like to acknowledge the many things he has done for our parish.

First of all, he has, with his straightforward homilies, been a huge factor in the deepening of our spiritual lives. He did not hedge in addressing thorny issues such as birth control and right to life, and he also showed us his delightful sense of humor.

He was instrumental in acquiring an energetic, exceptional religious education coordinator. The two of them, along with our music coordinator and our many excellent volunteers, have greatly enriched our parish life. In addition, we now have well-trained acolytes, new commissions, a better understanding of stewardship; in short, more parish involvement.

Our daily Masses have included a short, Gospel-oriented homily and singing led beautifully by Fr. Nicholas. On the Sundays when the youngest children had Sunday School they would come around the altar and Father would talk to and question them and then bless them. This was good experience for the children as well as the congregation.

Our increase in parish social functions has caused parish closeness to grow. We will miss him greatly. He is a committed, dedicated, intelligent, and loving priest. Nigeria and his family is blessed to have him return.

St. Patrick of Lodi Bible Study Group