When Victor Gonzalez and his wife found out they were expecting their second child they were elated with joy. During their second trimester ultrasound, couples received the worst news any expecting parent could ever hear. Their unborn child was diagnosed with a rare disease called macular degeneration. This disease, if left untreated, would leave the child without sight and with muscle degeneration. Doctors recommended that Gongalez's unborn child be subjected to a clinical trial. This test procedure would inject healthy stem cells into the fetus's bloodstream in hopes of regenerating muscle tissue. The results were phenomenal. The experimental drug was successful in reducing disease progression by 43%. The Gonzalezes' success story is not just a miracle or a statistical anomaly. Stem cells save many lives. The National Institutes of Health should continue to encourage embryonic stem cell research as it will lead to more effective treatments within the embryo for genetic abnormalities and ultimately eliminate the risk of disease. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Funding embryonic stem cell research can lead to new types of treatments for genetic deformities. There are a significant number of congenital diseases that can be treated with the use of embryonic stem cells. These cells, obtained from the umbilical cord, can be transformed into any type of tissue through appropriate biological and chemical manipulations. Currently, as it stands, there is no cure for mitochondrial diseases, however, with continued research “researchers can generate heart, brain, muscle or eye cells from mutation-free stem cells.” Removing the genetic mutation will alleviate the potential suffering of individuals born with that disease. For example, sickle cell anemia, immunodeficiency diseases, and cystic fibrosis can be treated inside the womb, preventing permanent complications and ultimately extending your lifespan. Many researchers predict that this innovative technology will make “more effective treatments for serious human diseases” and could cure a number of genetic diseases. Furthermore, future research on embryonic stem cells may cure many other diseases. There are no limits to the type or number of diseases that can be treated using stem cells. For example, stem cells can treat diabetes patients to replicate the proper amount of insulin needed. These types of treatments have been tested on mice with diabetes and the results are very promising. According to Stanford Medicine Stem Cell Research, “Researchers altered embryonic stem cells to develop them into insulin-producing cells normally found in the pancreas. When they implanted these cells into diabetic mice that had lost the ability to produce insulin, the implanted cells produced insulin in a biologically normal manner and treated the diabetes.” While this research is still in the early stages of testing on other animals, it could one day transform the way diseases are treated. Another example of stem cell research could be “regenerating neurons damaged by spinal cord injury.” Life-threatening illnesses such as chronic heart failure and neurological deficits resulting from a stroke can potentially be reduced or even cured completely. Stem cell research also has critics..