Stem Cells-Continued

So yesterday I discussed what exactly stem cells are. Today I will breifly explain the risks and outcomes. In the article I mentioned yesterday Lenzer disucusses the affect they had on a 15 year old named Paizley. Diagnosed with sickle cell anemia, stem cell treatment was one option that the family chose to take. Their first option involved regularly scheduled blood transfusion-the body became immuned and it stopped working. So a bone marrow donor donated her bone marrow which contained healthy, properly functioning blood cells.
" Paizley's recovery highlights just one miniscule part of the potential of stem cells..." (Lenzer 32- discover magazine). Seems all well and good but what if it doesn't work.


Sickle vs. Regular Bloob Cell



P.S.: Bone marrow obviously comes from bones and to access the blood you need a big bone(femur), so you'd have to have your leg cut open so that the surgeon could access your femur. - talk more about this next week maybe

Questions:

1.) If diseases are caused by viruses infecting cells, can't the stem cells get infected.

2.) Why aren't these stories being discussed more publically? Is it a fear of the public fearing the outcome?