I have a spinal cord injury and have used a wheelchair for nearly 32 years. I am healthy, happy and lead a very full and rewarding life. I am part of the disability pride and independent living movement. I am happily married, work full time, attend law school, pay taxes and vote. I do not consider my life a “tragedy” and I do not consider myself to be “suffering” from anything.

However, others looking at my condition might think differently. For example, I have inserted a catheter into my bladder 40,000 times and have endured countless urinary tract infections as a result. I’ve been lucky as I have fought them off thus far. Many of my colleagues have died from these infections, including Christopher Reeve.

Other frequent maladies of SCI (spinal cord injury) are osteoporosis, carpal tunnel syndrome and worn-out joints and tendons requiring surgery. I have all those things, too. Embryonic and adult stem-cell research holds promise that such conditions can be ameliorated or cured by using such cells to regenerate the nerves damaged by SCI. This probably will not happen in my lifetime, but will happen to those who follow me. Unfortunately, we have lost the past six years to advance such research because of to political and religious views that, quite frankly, defy logic.

I have sincerely tried to understand those who oppose embryonic stem cell research and continue to shake my head in disbelief over the lack of credibility of these arguments.

When our elected officials make decisions to spend taxpayer dollars, I know it cannot always be based on majority rule. Sometimes unpopular decisions must be made. The war in Iraq is probably a good example. Nobody wants to go to war. Nobody wants to destroy “innocent lives,” a phrase often used ironically to describe human embryos. We are at war in Iraq to promote freedom and ostensibly for homeland security so as to avoid terrorist attacks on American soil. However, disease and injury represent a different type of terrorist, much more pervasive and prevalent among our citizens than dirty bombs. Are we not “innocent lives” too? How many of us will be sacrificed by delaying the inevitable progress of responsible science?

Human embryos are alive. I do not argue with that. Proponents argue that these embryos in fertility clinics will be destroyed anyway, so why not put them to good use for research? The counter-argument is often to ask whether we would condone similar research on death-row inmates since they will ultimately be destroyed too. Death-row inmates have developed nervous systems; they can feel pain. Embryos cannot. Although such an analogy tugs at the compassionate conscience, it’s simply not logical as a fair comparison.

Another argument put forth by opponents is that the embryonic research already conducted privately and in other countries has yielded no positive results, and that adult stem cells have the same potential as embryonic. There are instances too numerous to count showing that effective science takes a long time, with many failed attempts before the big breakthrough is developed that saves millions. One need only look to the polio vaccine or the continual battle and development of antibiotics to dispel that argument. Both adult and embryonic stem cells need to be studied as they do very different things. However, it is only the embryonic stem cell that has the flexibility to develop into any type of cell in the human body.

November is coming. I know how each of our senators and congressmen voted on H.R. 810. And I know exactly how I will vote. Sadly, a few of those congressmen who voted no are people I genuinely like and believe have been good statesmen in other areas affecting those of us with disabilities. But to me, and millions of others living with disabilities, this absurdity must stop, and the voting booth is where I can do my most important work at promoting stem cell research.

Susan Webb