The purpose of this website is to raise money by way of donations to offset the cost of stem cell treatment and to keep those interested posted on my experience with the procedure and my personal progress. I will regularly update where I am in terms of reaching my financial goal. If you click on the donations link, instructions for donating will follow.
I'm off to Costa Rica on April 11, 2009..........wish me luck!!
A BIT ABOUT ME
Where do I possibly begin? Perhaps February 1997 when I experienced my first MS symptom. I had the world at my fingertips, or so I thought. I was 20-years-old, in my second year of University, and planning on buying a house with my boyfriend, Steve. I worked as a waitress at a local restaurant, which enabled me to pay my way through University. One night in February, after a busy night at work, I returned home and climbed into bed to go to sleep. My left arm went numb. I shook it, but it didn't ease up. I ran my arm under hot water, thinking maybe it would get the circulation going, but that didn't work. An absolute panic washed over me, tears began flowing. I knew right then it was MS. For those who don't know me, I knew this because my mom had MS. She used a walker to get around the house, was practically in a wheelchair, and was unable to do several things we all take for granted. I called my sister, who was living in Los Angeles at the time, sobbing and in absolute hysterics. She calmed me down somewhat and off I went to sleep. The next morning, my left arm still felt tingly. Over the next few months, my right arm became slightly tingly, as did my left and right feet.
I was assured by my doctor that it was not MS, but was able to get an appointment with a neurologist anyway. He too said it was not MS, probably stress (we're all told that aren't we?), and that if I wanted an MRI, I would have to pay for it since he did not think that was the problem.
Fast forward a couple of years. Symptoms stayed relatively the same, perhaps a bit more intense, but nothing that effected daily life. I was lucky to get a referral to a wonderful neurologist at Sunnybrook hospital in Toronto who had recently transferred from out east. A fabulous and caring doctor, he too did not think it was MS, but agreed to the MRI without hesitation. It came back negative. I still remember him giving me the thumbs up! A year later, after having read that lesions could be on your spine, I returned to request a spinal MRI. Again, he agreed without hesitation. It returned positive, and although in my heart I knew it all along, the confirmation was sheer terror and panic. My life was turned upside down. He sent me to a neurologist at St. Michael's hospital as MS was not his specialty. I agreed to see this new doctor and so I did.
For almost two years after that, I was injecting myself with "disease modifying" drugs. I was in such a panic I would have agreed to anything to stop the disease. In hindsight, I probably should have looked into them a bit closer and I would likely have opted not to go on the medication. I stopped when I found out I was pregnant. Three months after the birth of my beautiful daughter (Nov. '03), a weakness developed in my right leg. Although I was walking fine to others, my leg felt so heavy, and walking from my livingroom to the bathroom was absolutely exhausting. I went to the neurologist, who put me on a high dose of steroids for four days and all was well again. The same thing happened a year later (Sept. '04), but not as bad. Steroids again and things cleared up.
I've continued to have more symptoms and difficulty since 2006. Since then, I have drastically altered my diet, have taken various supplements, worked on different exercises, and have worked on emotional healing. Despite all these positive steps, I have continued to slowly decline. Perhaps I would be much worse off without my efforts and determination. I watched the disease completely destroy my mother and my family, I am not going to let the same thing happen to me.
After being diagnosed, I told a few close friends and family. I never did tell my mom before her passing on October 22, 2008 (blood clot). She had been in a nursing home since age 48 and she was 57 when she died. She had lost everything to this disease and I did not want her to carry any guilt in knowing her daughter was also now suffering from the disease. I hid it from virtually everyone, mainly because of my own feelings of embarrassment and shame. Somehow, I thought people would think less of me if they knew. I have had various bouts of severe depression. At times I've been full of hope, and other times, I just didn't want to live anymore. One gift this disease has given me is to not take the simple things for granted, like walking to your mailbox. Health is everything, and once you lose it, things somehow become clearer. Not only did I take the simple things for granted, but relationships as well. You learn who your true friends are and it tests the strength of your intimate relationships. Steve has been by my side since the very beginning. He is my biggest support, my rock, and I have realized just how lucky I am. Not all men would be this wonderful and I love him even more for his commitment and devotion towards me and our life together.
So, how did I come across stem cells? Well, I have always searched online for those who have regained their health. I have employed several different tactics, to no or little avail. I had heard about stem cell treatment being in trial phases in Canada, but was not aware that this was actually being practiced elsewhere in the world.
After several months of research and inquiries, both with the facilities and with people who have been treated at various sites, I have decided to attend The Institute for Cellular Medicine, a treatment center in Costa Rica.
Is the treatment expensive? Yes, but you can't put a price on my health. If there's a chance of getting my life back, not only for me, but also for my family, I'll give it a shot. Research stands behind stem cell treatment, I just wish I had discovered it sooner!
A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROCEDURE
I begin my stem cell treatment on April 13, 2009 and will be at the facility for two weeks. The stem cells are extracted from my own bone marrow, fat, and/or skin tissue. Once the cells have been harvested, they are sent to a lab for purification and assessed for quality before being reinjected into my body intravenously, as well as, intrathecally (which is the space around the brain & spinal cord that holds spinal fluid).
Also being used are donated umbilical cord blood stem cells. They are rigorously checked and rechecked for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, viruses, prions, etc.
The clinic is owned and operated by American, Board Certified Doctors who seem to genuinely care about their patients, as confirmed by some of their former clients. They follow up with their cases and have had good to excellent results with their MS patients. It commonly takes 3 to 6 months for positive changes to occur as the stem cells need a chance to go where they’re needed and begin repairing.
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