TIME Magazine's In-depth Look at Medicine and Religion

The new issue of TIME just arrived and I can't wait to read the Mind & Body special feature by Jeffrey Kluger. "How Faith Can Heal" is a multi-page assessment of how people all over the globe turn to God during times of illness. As Kluger puts it,

... there is nothing we pray - or chant or meditate - for more than health.

The section is comprehensive, covering everything from Holy Water in Lourdes, France and the Holy Rock in Lac, Albania, to a Shamanic ritual in Siberia, Russia and Santeria ceremony in Havana, Cuba. It also recommends books and websites.

Given my chronic illness, I intend to read every word of the section - even the technical medical terms I don't understand. I'm a left-brained cynic for the most part, yet I firmly believe in the power of prayer and, more importantly, in the power of faith, which have carried me through my challenging journey.

Let me know what you think once you've read the section. I appreciate other people's perspectives because they teach me and broaden my appreciation for almost any topic.

Need a Liver? Grow Your Own

The current issue of TIME magazine has a fascinating cover story, "Stem Cell Research: The Quest Resumes," that is a must-read for anyone suffering from chronic illness or disease. As stated in the article, "On Jan. 23, after nearly a decade of preparation, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first trial of an embryonic- stem-cell therapy for a handful of patients paralyzed by spinal-cord injuries."

Scientific gains from these trials and other ongoing stem-cell research have the potential to impact nearly every facet of medical research, including liver disease and organ transplantation. It's not implausible, researchers say, to expect that patients will be able to grow their own replacement organs, thereby negating the need for immunosuppressants. Given the negative side effects associated with these drugs (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, kidney damage, magnesium depletion, upset stomach and more), eliminating immunosuppressants will be extremely beneficial.

Beyond transplants, stem cell research could one day lead to a cure for diseases such as Hepatitis C. If a medical researcher somewhere needs a Hep C-infected, post-transplant liver patient to participate in a clinical trial involving stem cells, count me in. My children are just 15 and 16 years old and if I want to live long enough to meet my grandchildren, scientific breakthroughs must occur. I'll gladly do my part!