For Paul J. Byrne, 2004 has been a turbulent year, full of emotional ups and downs, including a plea of guilt for acting as an intermediary for his one time associate to former County Executive Robert Janiszewski, 2004 will stand out in his mind as one of the best years of his life.
“Last Friday, Jim McGreevey called from his office,” Byrne said. “He wanted to thank me again for what I did with the embryonic stem cell issue.”
The former governor had taken a position with the legal firm of Weiner-Lesniak after his resignation had taken affect in mid-November. “He wanted to tell me he was coming to Hudson County this week and to thank me again for all I had done in promoting embryonic stem cell research.”
As chairman of the New Jersey Right to Hope Committee – a pro-embryonic stem cell lobbyist group – Byrne had played a pivotal role in seeing his dream of advancing research with the passage of legislation earlier this year making it legal for research to be conducted in New Jersey – only the second state to do so, and with McGreevey’s establishing a stem cell research instituted funded by public money, a first in the nation. Byrne had even seen his dream become part of national debate when Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry adopting it as part of his platform for election.
Although Kerry lost the election bid, the issue didn’t die. Voters in California were given an opportunity to push for research there, following the lead of New Jersey
And while McGreevey may or may not still become the unpaid head of that research institute – that matter will be resolved sometime during the next few months – he has – largely with Byrne’s help — left a legacy that will outlast the negative headlines that have plagued him since announcing his resignation last August.
In the hours prior to Nov. 15 when he actually left office, McGreevey apparently penned letters of thanks to those he considered responsible for the successes of his administration, and Byrne recently received one of those letters.
“Three years ago, a story appeared in the New York Times about embryonic stem cell research,” McGreevey wrote in a letter dated Oct. 25. “Shortly after, I heard your name linked with the statewide effort to legalize embryonic stem cell research here in New Jersey.”
Stem cell research is controversial because it uses the cells of discarded human embryos created for in vitro fertilization, which were not to be used in the end. For Byrne and others supporting Embryonic Stem Cell Research, New Jersey’s stand has become even more important because of the reelection of President George W. Bush whose platform will likely guarantee continued opposition on a federal level.
In his letter to Byrne, McGreevey credited Senator (now Acting Governor) Richard Codey and Assemblyman Neil Cohen in helping the state to become only the second state in the United States to legalize embryonic stem cell research and the first to create a publicly-funded stem cell research institute.
“We would not have been successful, how4ever, without your help and the help of the organization you founded, njrighttohope.org,” McGreevey wrote. “You and your organization’s public advocacy of this cause – appearing on television and in newspapers across the state – helped make this bill a reality of hope for tens of thousands of New Jerseyans.”
McGreevey has over the last three years stated that his support for the research is based partly based on the fact that stem cell research can provide “groundbreaking hope” for people suffering from serious spinal injuries.
Studies show that the human body is made up of a variety of cells, such as cells that make up the heart, lungs, skin or blood. But all of these evolve from a single kind of cell that is developed at the earliest stages of embryonic human development. These cells – called embryonic stem cells – are still waiting to evolve, and scientists believe the secret to curing several of many incurable ailments may be found in how they do evolve.
Byrne, who has become legally blind as the result of his diabetes, recalled a particularly painful moment this year, when his five year old niece invited him to come with her to the Museum of Natural History where she was doing research for a show and tell project for school on dinosaurs.
“She said we can all go over there and see the dinosaurs,” Byrne said. “Then she caught her self. She said she forgot I can’t see. She then said I could come with her when I got better. I got choked up. I had to put the phone down. I was never going to get any better. But she didn’t understand.”
McGreevey, who was well aware of Byrne’s condition, mentioned this lack of cure in his letter.
“I know that these first steps in creating hope from a new technology will probably not cure of your blindness due to diabetes,” he wrote. “It has helped me see the importance of such research more clearly and to take bold actions to make New Jersey a leader in providing some ray of hope for the tens of thousands of suffers of diabetes, sickle cell anemia, spinal cord paralysis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s (disease) and a host of other aliment this research may treat or cure some day.”
Byrne, as well as Hoboken Councilman Tony Soares and others from Hudson County, were at the ceremony last spring when McGreevey signed the legislation that made research legal in New Jersey. Byrne recalled being in the same room with another man he called “a great American,” Christopher Reeve, who – despite spinal injuries that had paralyzed him from the neck down – became one of the national spokes people for stem cell research. Although Byrne could not see Reeve, he said he felt the immense respect in the room around him, and heard the awe in the voices of those who greeted the man who had once played Superman in the movies.
Soares later – when news reached him of Reeve’s death – called Reeve “a real Superman” for the work done in the name of stem cell research. Soares suffers from ailments associated with dwarfism. Byrne, who was touched deeply by the news of Reeve’s death as well, said he was humbled to have been apart of the same effort.
McGreevey also mentioned Reeves’ role in the effort.
“Pundits may say that legalizing embryonic stem cell research will be part of my legacy left to the citizens of New Jersey,” McGreevey wrote. “I do not look at it as my own personal legacy, but as the legacy of people like yourself, Carl Riccio, Dr. Ira Black and the late Christopher Reeve who took the time and effort to mobilize public officials and public opinion behind your cause for the betterment of mankind. As I prepare to leave office for private life, I will always reflect on our shared struggle to provide hope for those who have none.”
Contact Al Sullivan at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com