Prolife Victories
Baby Okay With New Organs
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, March 20 — A 7-month-old Italian baby is recovering after a successful eight-organ transplant.
Alessia di Matteo had the operation on Jan. 31 but it wasn't announced until March 18. She had been born with smooth muscle disorder, which prevented normal function of her stomach, intestines and kidneys, the wire service reported. Left untreated, the condition is fatal.
Alessia underwent surgery in Miami for a new liver, pancreas, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, spleen and two kidneys. She will undergo observation for several more weeks.
Statement Not Hung Out to Dry
TALON NEWS, March 22 — A Virginia high-school student has been given permission to wear a pro-life sweatshirt after threatening to sue.
A senior at Denbigh High School in Newport News on Feb. 18 wore a sweatshirt that said “Abortion is homicide” on the front and, on the back: “You will not silence my message. You will not mock my God. You will stop killing my generation. Rock for Life.”
The assistant principal demanded he remove the sweatshirt or turn it inside out. He obeyed but later, with his parents, decided to seek the assistance of the Thomas More Law Center, the political news site reported.
The center wrote a letter informing the school the student had a legal right to wear the sweatshirt to school and wanted it to guarantee he would be able to wear it.
The school responded in the affirmative March 19.
Defining the Unborn
The bill, which passed March 26, would make it a crime to harm or kill a baby while still in its mother's womb. It was even supported by abortion proponents.
The disagreement, however, was about the definition of a human being. Kansans for Life lobbied for the definition “unborn child,” and the original bill used those terms.
But pro-abortion Rep. Cindy Neighbor removed the language and set the definition as “the live product of human conception in utero.” It was approved by the House and moved for a vote.
Kansans for Life urged House members to reject the new language, and the bill was defeated. Brought back for further review, a compromise on the legislation was reached and the new bill passed.
Promising Stem-Cell Research
WISTV (Columbia, S.C.), March 24 — New research shows promising results in using adult stem cells — rather than controversial embryonic stem cells — in treating diabetes.
University of Florida scientists say they've cultured adult bone marrow stem cells to become insulin-producing cells, the news station reported. In tests these cells have normalized blood-glucose levels in lab animals.
