Edgar toddler first ‘bubble boy’ survivor State-mandated test at birth identified fatal disease By Megan Loiselle Wausau Daily Herald EDGAR — A 1-year-old Edgar boy has become the first child in the world to be saved from a fatal immunodeficiency disease, just months after Wisconsin became the only state to test for it at birth. Dawson Bornheimer’s family on Sept. 25 celebrated the first anniversary of a lifesaving bone marrow transplant that treated his Severe Combine... Read Full Story

‘Olivia’s Fund’ gets barbecue boost The Silliker family and supporters are grateful to the community for its support. As a result of that support, Olivia Silliker’s (small photo) future is considerably brighter following a bone marrow transplant courtesy of her four-year-old sister Mackenzie. Community support Family and friends of Olivia Silliker are overwhelmed by the community spirit and generosity displayed at a fund-raising barbecue outside Chrissy’s Variety Store. The recent barbecue r... Read Full Story

Scientists Identify Genetic Cause of Previously Undefined Primary Immune Deficiency Disease Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have identified a genetic mutation that accounts for a perplexing condition found in people with an inherited immunodeficiency. The disorder, called combined immunodeficiency, is characterized by a constellation of severe health problems, including persistent bacterial and viral skin infections, severe eczema, acute allergies and asthma, and cancer.... Read Full Story

… To advise in parallel with Mr. Shakespeare, to that there is a question.  But the teacher assigned the homework, so I’ll give it a go. Hamlet’s on the syllabus for Ben’s senior year. The students are going to study Polonius’ advice to his son Laertes.  Hamlet, Act I, Scene iii, Lines 59-80. Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportioned thought his act. (Lines 59-60) Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.  (Line 61) This above all: to thine ownself be... Read Full Story

The Second Coming of Gene Therapy 09.02.2009 For years, gene therapy produced tons of hype but no results. Recently, though, new approaches have yielded its first successes: breakthrough treatments for blindness, cancer, and the deadly bubble boy disease. by Jill Neimark “For the first two years of her life, my daughter, Katlyn, was knocking on heaven’s door every day,” says Daisy Demerchant, a 26-year-old mom living in Centreville, New Brunswick, just north of Maine. “Two months after she wa... Read Full Story

Campers aid area toddler The Jeffery family is giving thanks to their newfound friends, many of whom they’ve never met. Indeed, most of the Jefferys’ supporters are members of the Bluewater Campers’ Association, which recently presented the St. Joseph’s family with a $7,200 donation, the second of such gifts since the club first heard of the family’s plight three years ago. “I can’t tell you what this means for our family,” says Dennis Jeffery. “This will help a lot.” And help is what the... Read Full Story

Mother’s tribute to hospital (UKPA) – Sep 1, 2009 When it was suggested that her very sick daughter have a new bone marrow transplant procedure at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), Louise Moseley said she was just relieved that Ffion was not the first. “I would have been more sceptical if she had been the first but other parents had been brave enough to say yes. She was so poorly we just thought that it had to be done.” Ffion was just three weeks old when she developed sk... Read Full Story

Are you on Twitter?  Cue Camp Virginia is.  You can become a follower at http://twitter.com/CCVA.  CCVA hopes to be posting updates to Twitter through out the camp weekend of August 27th to August 30th.  So, if you can’t come to camp, you can still follow along with what is happening on Twitter! Read Full Story

Today was a first for me.  While at the mall with my son, a lady walked up to me and said “You Cue!”.  Indeed as my son and I wandered through the mall talking, I had been cueing to him.  She was from neighboring Montgomery County, but we knew some of the same people.  I was so surprised though to have someone actually come up and know what it was I was doing, that I was somewhat flabbergasted.  I don’t even remember if I told her my name!  I know my son told her... Read Full Story

‘She’s our little miracle’ Published Date: 17 July 2009 Dressed in pink from head to toe, two year-old Eva McLaughlin skips across the kitchen floor pushing a yellow toy shopping trolley. “I’m going to the Spar,” chirps the blonde-haired Magilligan girl. Seconds later, she sits by her pink toy piano and tells mum Cathy: “I’m going to play a song.” Moments later Eva is off again, this time down the hall chatting. Anyone meeting Eva for th... Read Full Story