Three-year-old burn victim healed from stem cells

 As I mentioned in an earlier blog entry, I support stem cell research. So I was delighted to read from The Washington Post that three-year-old Isabella "Pippie" Kruger benefited from the wonders of stem-cell research. According to the article, there was a cloned-skin transplant surgery done, which helped Pippie out after receiving burns on 80% of her body (Associated Press, 2012). During the recovery process, Pippie was reliant on feeding tubes and was completely sedated for a week to make sure that she kept still and would not tear her new skin (Associated Press, 2012). Pippie is likely to be discharged later on this week, which is great news.

Mother and the burn survivor, Isabella Kruger. Taken from http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/3-year-old-south-african-burn-victim-who-received-cloned-skin-to-leave-hospital-soon/2012/06/26/gJQAKeFv4V_story.html

The question here is not whether or not stem cells are ethical. The question here is whether doing stem-cell based transplant surgery is ethical, which I think it is. If the stem cells are there and capable to do good, why not put them to us? And after seeing the disparities concerning live organ donor transplants for kidneys in a previous blog entry--something the average human has two of--I can only imagine (if skin were donate-able in the same fashion) the many people who would willingly donate their skin. 

Please, note the sarcasm.

I hope that other successful organs are grown from stem cells. Maybe then there would not be such huge disparities when it comes to those who are given spare organs. Then again, maybe a lack of organs is not the actual problem. Who knows?

Reference:

Associated Press. (2012, June 26). 3-year-old south african burn victim who received cloned skin to leave hospital soon. The Washington Post. Retrieved June 26, 2012, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/3-year-old-south-african-burn-victim-who-received-cloned-skin-to-leave-hospital-soon/2012/06/26/gJQAKeFv4V_story.html