Critics lament the state of stem cell research

'It is the only thing ... that will provide me with a cure,' says disease victim

An eight-cell embryo is shown three days after insemination in this undated Eastern Virginia Medical School handout.

(CNN) -- One year ago August 9, President Bush announced funding for human embryo stem cell research would be limited. But now, many people believe it was the wrong decision.

In a move to appease those who support the idea, and those who believe creating human embryonic stem cells for research is wrong, Bush decided funding would only support research on a small number of existing cell lines held by only a few labs.

Now, stem cell research is at virtual standstill, critics say. Researchers complain they can't get the cells they need because supplies are so scarce.

One of those critics is Stephen Wakefield from Atlanta, Georgia. He used to ski and run marathons -- but not anymore.

Six years ago, he was diagnosed with a neuromuscular disorder similar to Lou Gehrig's disease. There's no cure and it will only get worse.

At first, he was devastated. But then --like most of us -- he heard about embryonic stem cells.

Scientists believe stem cells can be turned into anything, including the nerve cells Steve needs to replace the ones dying in his body.

"I believe it is the only thing on the horizon that will provide me with a cure," Wakefield says through his wife, Pam, who must translate for him.

So what do Steve and Pam think of President Bush's decision a year ago?

CNN NewsPass VIDEO CNN's Elizabeth Cohen tells how a lifelong Republican with an incurable disease thinks Bush has made a bad decision on stem cell research, which he regards as his only hope. (August 9) Play video   EXTRA INFORMATION Indepth: The stem cell debate  Flash: Embryonic stem cell explainer      QUICKVOTE Do you agree with President Bush's decision to limit federal funding for stem cell research? Yes No Not sure View Results

That's a tricky question. They're close to the Bushes and campaigned for them for 25 years. A lawyer, Steve even served in the first Bush administration as general counsel for the Department of Energy.

But they think the president made the wrong decision and now feel disappointed and frustrated.

"It just seems like it's just so obvious to save a life, to save many lives that Bush and his administration would want to go forward big time with this stem cell research," says Pam.

They say because of Bush's decision, stem cell research hasn't made much headway. And time is not on Steve's side.

In the time the decision was announced, "You have gotten worse," Pam says to Steve. He nods.

CNN spoke with several stem cell researchers who said they've tried, but for various legal and scientific reasons, can't get their hands on the cells from the 11 labs that are approved sources.

Dr. Curt Civin, editor of the journal "Stem Cells" and a pediatric cancer specialist, wants stem cells to rebuild bone marrow for young cancer patients.

"Certainly in our lab we haven't been able to get going, even on studying the embryonic stem cells, because we can't get our hands on them," says Civin.

The Department of Health and Human Services says it's trying to make it easier for researchers like Civin.

"It's going to continue to ramp up, starting slow, but continue to move forward," says Tommy Thompson, HHS Secretary.

In fact, the government just recently started to make arrangements to distribute stem cells to researchers.

And Civin says he hopes to get some of those stem cells into his lab at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

But the Wakefields can't help but think this is all moving too slowly.

"Reagan said, 'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down these walls' and Bush can say, 'tear down those walls of disease'. And he could be such a hero for all eternity," says Pam.