Extreme Knitting Redhead: Daily Mail

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Daily Mail

Yesterday afternoon I was interviewed by Olinka for an article in the Daily Mail about the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill which is contentious to say the least. The reason someone like me was approached was because a lot of the arguments in favour of one part of the Bill, the creation of hybrid embryos, suggest that it will help scientists find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinsons. I did not comment on the other aspects of the Bill.

It was really quite hard, being put on the spot and totally out of the blue, but I think the article conveys most of my thoughts and fears. I find it very unsettling to think of the moral issues surrounding the creation of human/animal embryos but I also appreciate that Science needs to progress. One thing I was certain of is that MPs should be allowed a 'free' vote (ie they don't have to vote the way their Party Leader wants them too) as many people would not want to support the Bill because of their religious beliefs. The article appears here.

One funny thing was when the photographer arrived he was somewhat dishevelled - he'd been lurking in the undergrowth on Paul McCartney's estate in Peasmarsh, which isn't far away from us, trying to get photos of wild boar. Talk about from the sublime to the ridiculous!! The photo of me is one of the worst ever too, but never mind.

Tomorrow I have a live interview with Neil Pringle on BBC Southern Counties Radio at 7am! At least it is more publicity for the Alzheimer's Research Trust.

I must take a photo of my Autumn Rose and post it tomorrow as I am pleased with the way it's progressing, albeit very slowly.

1 comment:

Heldasland said...: Good luck.; March 27, 2008 at 3:45:00 PM PDT

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Mum's Story

In 1997 my mother, then aged 81, had a series of minor strokes. Shortly after that we started to notice behavioural changes notably memory loss and confusion over everyday items. We thought it was just old age finally catching up with her. Then she started wandering and had violent mood swings. Although she already lived with us it became obvious that she couldn't be left alone for long and so I left my job to care for her. The next few years saw a gradual decline into the blackness that is 'vascular dementia'. My normally placid mum became violent and aggressive. She had psychotic incidents where she would see imaginary people (children hiding in her wardrobe, Russians sitting on the stairs, women stealing her clothes) and she would shout at them and sometimes throw things too. She was so convincing that we used to go and check that there wasn't anyone there! When my sister died mum did not know who Judy was or that she was her daughter. There came a point when I suddenly realised she no longer knew that I was her daughter and this was a terrible time for me. In the last 2 years that she lived with us, life for us all became almost unbearable as she needed 24 hour care - she couldn't be left alone at all because she would either wander off or hurt herself, she never slept for more than 30 minutes at a time during the night, she became incontinent and incapable of doing anything for herself. Finally my husband and I realised that we could no longer provide her with the care that she needed and she went to live in a special care home where the team did a splendid job caring for her in the last few months of her life. There she lived a zombified existence unaware of who she was, what she was or where she was. It was heartbreaking. She died in March 2005, the day after her 89th birthday.

Thank you for taking the time to read mum's story and I hope you'll dig deep and sponsor me using the link below to help find a way of beating this destructive disease.