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San Luis firefighter back on the job
SAN LUIS, Ariz. - May 22, 2005 — Isidro Lopez is back on the job. The San Luis firefighter was on medical leave for four months while being treated for aplastic anemia, a disease that attacks red and white blood cells.
Currently, Lopez is working light duty on a modified schedule of 8 am. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. He does commercial and residential inspections and fire education. He is not responding to emergency call or accidents, but he said in a few months that may change.
Lopez said he has to wait until the number of red and white blood cells in his body increase and his doctors give permission for him to work a 24-hour shift and fight fires. But he said eventually he will be able to do everything he did before getting sick.
"Little by little my red blood cells are going up," he said.
For Lopez, though, just being able to return to work is an accomplishment.
"At the beginning of the ordeal, I thought I wouldn't be able to work ever again," he said. "I thought I wasn't going to make it."
But his treatment is working. Lopez currently is in remission and if he suffers a relapse, he now has four potential donors that have been matched for a bone marrow transplant. Doctors previously had said that Lopez would die without a bone marrow transplant.
"It's a very bad disease," Lopez said. "Everyone is surprised of the results of my treatment — family, doctors, friends. It's fantastic."
Since returning to work May 9, Lopez has spent much of his time teaching children about fire safety.
"It feels good to go back to work," Lopez said. "I was excited to go back to work ’cause I was off for so long. It gives me a little bit of motivation."
Talking about fire safety is not new for Lopez. It's a theme he's talked about many times.
But on his first day back on the job, Lopez said he was worried. Because aplastic anemia has weakened Lopez's immune system, he was concerned that he might pick up a bug.
"I was kind of scared ’cause I'm still sick, not cured. I was scared of getting viruses, or getting sick from the kids," said Lopez.
But he said he relaxed a few days later when a blood test showed that his red and white blood cell counts had increased. Teaching students became fun again, he said.
Lopez said he often thinks of his eight children when he talks about fire safety. He said he speaks to students the same way he speaks to his children.
"It's easy to communicate with them (the students) ’cause I have a lot of kids. I'm used to kids."
He said the presentation gives students information they can use in an emergency.
"Once you're out just stay out (of the building). Don't come back for any reason," he told second-grade teacher Alana Williams' second class at Cesar Chavez Elementary School recently.
The students nodded. A few raised their hands to ask questions.
Then Lopez explained the how firemen's protective gear works. Fire cadet Arturo Mendez, put on the protective boots, pants, jacket and mask as Lopez talked.
"Aww, wow. So cool"," the students said as many stood for a better view.
"It feels good to teach the kids about safety," Lopez said. "They learn. They don't have any information about it. It's good for them to know. It's a satisfactory reward to teach the kids and they love it. They like the equipment and the gear."
Paige Lauren Deiner can be reached at
pdeiner@yumasun.com or 539-6872.
Stem Cell Research - Changing Wishes to Possibilities and Possibilities to Reality
07 Jan 2006 - The first International symposium on Stem cell Research and Therapy was conducted in Chennai, on the 6th of January. The programme was organized by LifeCell, a pioneer in stem cell banking in association with Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, one of the reputed medical institutions in the country.
Dr. Mammen Chandy, a leading hematologist, CMC, Vellore, headed the symposium. Following a small introduction about ‘Journey of LifeCell’, the scientific session was held. Dr. Paul. R. Sanberg, Dr. Umesh Banakar, Dr.Michael E.Trigg, Dr. Naynesh Kamani were amongst the participants.
Different aspects related to the potential of stem cell therapy and research was discussed in detail. The results of ‘Stem cell therapy in the treatment of neurological disorders such as ALS and stroke’ (in animal models), the ‘Role of stem cell transplantation in hematological malignancies’ (chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), aplastic anemia, Hodgkin’s disease), an ‘Overview of the ethical concerns associated with human stem cell research’, the possibility of ‘Stem cell transplantation as a curative therapy: Examples of Cord Blood use in Children- Outcome and Complications’ and the use of ‘Cord blood as an alternative source of haematopoietic Stem Cells for Transplantation in Children’ were some of the topics discussed.
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