Stem Cell Symphony: A Novel

Stuart Matheson, 32, is trapped in a nursing home as well as his body, eerily immobile at the last stage of Huntington's Disease. Kelsey Raye is a science writer feeling guilty about the recent deaths of her parents. She volunteers for hospice and is assigned to Stuart. She's a PhD, he never finished school, but they share a love of rock music and disdain of religion. They instantly bond.

As Kelsey plays her iPod daily for Stuart, he improves - an impossibility - and when she misses a few days, he backslides. She deduces that Stuart's gains follow hearing U2 or their imitators. Kelsey, who writes about stem cells, thinks the frequency of the arpeggios is turning on stem cells in Stuart's brain. She shares her idea with researcher Peter Holloway, but evil Nurse Smithies overhears and outs them to a tabloid. Meanwhile, Peter scans Stuart's brain. He's getting better!

All hell breaks loose when the tabloid hits. The government shuts down Peter's lab and confiscates Kelsey's iPod, while anti-stem cell protestors harass them -- just as Peter discovers how music stimulates stem cells. Then something unexpected happens. Did science fail, or was it the anti-science forces?

The underlying love story and comical cast of characters propel this parallel tale of emerging spirituality and an evolving medical technology. Many of the characters and scenes are based on real people, and the science dead-on accurate - with the one tweak of the music turning on stem cells.

It could happen.
Customer Review: Entertaining, informative, and inspiring
It's very refreshing to read a novel that is so well grounded in science and real life. This book has all the fictional elements of a great novel, yet you learn some things about science along the way through the book. I particularly liked the section on Congressional testimony. And I can personally relate to some of the nursing home scenes. Great job!
Customer Review: A good read AND informative!
Ricki Lewis' novel is the story of a young science writer who, as a hospice volunteer, finds herself inexplicably helping a patient with an incurable disease. It is current both in terms of discussing the science of the stem cell technology we hear so much about these days, but also in its musical references, like U2 and Coldplay (two artists included in a recent planetarium show I visited in the Rose Space Center in NYC.) There is a love interest with a twist, and I found myself gripped by the unknowns presented in the thickening plots. The cast of characters was eccentric but believable. Their actions felt so real sometimes, I found myself wondering if portions of the story were based on real events. What I perhaps liked the best was that the uplifting ending suggested that the miracle of art (in this case music) can inexplicably have a profound scientific effect on our bodies in ways we have perhaps not yet discovered. If there are not medical researchers out there testing out Dr. Lewis' "novel" hypotheses- there should be! I found myself learning about science while enjoying the story. This was a good read- I highly suggest it!

The word fibromyalgia comes from the Latin term for fibrous tissue (fibro-) and the Greek ones for muscle (-myo-) and pain (-algia). It is also known as fibrositis.It is a syndrome characterized by chronic pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints without detectable inflammation.Fibromyalgia does not cause body damage or deformity. However, undue fatigue plagues the large majority of patients with fibromyalgia and

Fibromyalgia is considered an arthritis-related condition. However, it is not a form of arthritis (a disease of the joints) since it does not cause inflammation in the joints, muscles, or other tissues or damage them. But fibromyalgia can (like arthritis) cause significant pain and fatigue and it can similarly interfere with a person's ability to carry on daily activities.

Irritable bowel syndrome may occur with fibromyalgia.Other symptoms of fibromyalgia may include headaches, painful menstrual periods, numbness or tingling of the extremities, restless legs, temperature sensitivity, and cognitive and memory problems (sometimes referred to as "brain fog").

Fibromyalgia tends to affect women. Only 10 to 20% of people with fibromyalgia are men. The diagnosis of fibromylgia in both women and men is usually made during middle age, although the symptoms may be present earlier in life. People with certain rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), or ankylosing spondylitis (spinal arthritis) are more likely to also have fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is not always easy to diagnose because many of the symptoms mimic those of other disorders, there are no visible signs of the disorder that a physician can see and there is no definitive laboratory test for fibromyalgia.The diagnosis of fibromyalgia is a clinical diagnosis.It is based on a history of chronic widespread pain that persists for more than 3 months in combination with tenderness in at least 11 of 18 specific tender point sites. Treatment is most effective when it incorporates combinations of education, stress reduction, exercise, and medication. A study has shown that aerobic exercise, such as swimming and walking, improves muscle fitness and reduces muscle pain and tenderness. Heat and massage may also give short-term relief. Patients with fibromyalgia may benefit from a combination of exercise, medication, physical therapy, and relaxation. Recommendations for prevention and treatment

1.Obtain delayed food IgG allergy testing, such as that available at New Hope Medical Center.This requires fasting for 12 hours prior to a blood draw.148 food antigens are tested against the patient's blood. Reactions are viewed under a microscope and recorded by digital camera. The patient is then given a consultation, along with an instruction manual, on how to correct this situation. If the patient's blood is too reactive, then a few intravenous infusions may become necessary prior to the blood draw in order to reduce this hyperactive state and obtain a more accurate test result.

2.Avoid processed foods (e.g., as white flour), refined foods (e.g., as white sugar), and stimulants such as coffee, tea, and tobacco (See "Smoking Addiction") as these can all depress your immune system.

3. Make an effort to increase your consumption of water.Attempt to drink eight glasses of purified or reverse osmosis water daily.

4. Ensure that your bowels move at least once daily by increasing your fiber consumption in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables. Oat bran and psyllium husk are also good sources of fiber. Coffee enemas can be very helpful here, as well as for stimulating liver detoxification via bile production.(See "Constipation")

5. Check your thyroid function by measuring your basal body temperature. This is done by placing a thermometer under your arm for 10 minutes before arising from bed on two consecutive days. For menstruating women, this is best done at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. The average basal body temperature should be greater than 97.8 degrees. If not, a trial of natural thyroid should be considered. (See "Hypothyroidism").

6. Consider a course of Cortef with a Micro dose Protocol.Cortef is a weak, water soluble steroid that helps to raise the body's threshold of pain by raising its natural cortisol level. It is given in a gradually decreasing amount over 2-3 weeks after which the patient may be placed on "booster doses" 4-5 days each week as needed for pain. This is a great way to interrupt the cycle of chronic pain and without the side-effects of Prednisone.

7.Consider an evaluation for free radical damage from environmental pollutants such as lead, aluminum, cadmium, and mercury. If elevated, heavy metal detoxification therapy is indicated. (See "Chelation Therapy").

8.Supplement with antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, E, Bioflavonoid, and Coenzyme Q10, B-vitamins, magnesium, free-form amino acids, thymus gland, and acidophilus. Consider also using Proteolytic enzymes, DMG, and vitamin B12 injections. Chlorophyll in tablet or liquid (such as barley or wheat grass) is also helpful.

9.Herbal preparations from burdock root, dandelion, echinacea, goldenseal and pau d'arco all promote healing.These can be made in teas and combined or alternated daily.

10.Homeopathic nosode preparations, such as those made from viruses themselves, are particularly helpful.However, these must be obtained by prescription from a homeopathic physician.Other homeopathic remedies known to be helpful in fatigue include Carbo Vegetabilis, Cocculus, Ferrum Phosphoricum, and Phosphoric Acidum.Combination remedies can also be helpful, especially if they contain the substance (e.g, virus) identified as the possible source of infection and/or fatigue. Isode therapy (e.g., preparations made from the patient themselves) can also be very beneficial here.

11.Take sublingual fermented lactobacillus three times daily for immune stimulation.

12.Gentle skin detoxification through a medical spa with steam sauna, infrared sauna, and/or contrast shower.

13.In severe cases, get intravenous solutions for better and more complete response. There should include either vitamin C or amino acids or combinations of both.

14.Intramuscular injections can be helpful for the delivery of energy medicines (e.g., B5, B12, AMP, NADH). These can be given 1-2 times weekly.

15.Subcutaneous energy injections can be administered daily and can include not only some of the products mentioned in #12 above, but homeopathic preparations as well.

To learn more about healing and health optimizing therapies, go to The Link or call (866) HEAL-NOW!

The word fibromyalgia comes from the Latin term for fibrous tissue (fibro-) and the Greek ones for muscle (-myo-) and pain (-algia). It is also known as fibrositis.

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