Tracey’s Race to Walk
Donation protected
Thankyou for reading Tracey’s story.
It was Monday, October 2015, Tracey Hergest (37) started her day just like any other, a wife to Rob Hergest, and mother to their two boys Sam (10) and Jacob (9). It was October half term and that day whilst on a family trip she noticed her finger was numb, within a very short amount of time this progressed to something very serious.

Within 48 hours Tracey was unable to walk, she had lost movement in her arms and her speech was slurred. As she was rushed to intensive care, her breathing unstable, the doctors and medical team were unsure what was happening.
This was the start of a very long and painful journey. Tracey remained in Hospital for the next 7 months, as her condition deteriorated she was moved from hospital to hospital and was eventually diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of Multiple Sclerosis at Kings College Hospital.
https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/what-is-ms
Tracey was unresponsive to treatment, the last attempt whilst being admitted being plasma exchange therapy.
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1895577-overview
Her treatment was cut short as she developed a blood clot on the lung. Recovery was slow but she was eventually transferred to Frank Cooksey Rehabilitation Unit to recover, before being discharged pending more treatment.
On returning home Tracey was wheelchair bound, unable to climb stairs, movement was minimal and she was in constant pain. Her ever doting husband became her carer and her children could do nothing but watch as their mum struggled through day to day. The concoction of medication left her sleepy & unresponsive the majority of the time. Tracey continued having tests, it was a long and heartbreaking 3 years for her and her family as she relapsed time & time again. With every relapse her MS progressed and her condition deteriorated further. The doctors tried everything to slow down the disease but nothing worked.
This was when Tracey first heard about Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Treatment, an amazing break through treatment that could halt the disease and vastly improve her quality of life.
https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/treatments-and-therapies/disease-modifying-therapies/hsct#
After being assessed, Tracey fell within the criteria for this treatment. There was a catch though, in order for her to access Stem Cell Therapy , she would first have to go through a lengthy treatment of immunotherapy, (Alemtuzumab) which would take around 2 years to complete, followed by three years of ‘Watch and wait’. Eager to get the ball rolling, Tracey started her first round of immunotherapy at the beginning of 2018, this was far from a cure, & due to the aggressive nature of her illness it would at best, slow its progression. Her only hope of getting the stem cell treatment on the NHS would be by going through the correct channels.
And this is why we are here...
Unfortunately the first round of treatment has left Tracey sick & paralysed for the last 4 months, she has relapsed twice in that time, every time Tracey relapses she suffers irreparable damage to her spine & nerve endings from this aggressive illness. If she continues this intensive treatment for another year, plus another three years after, we are terrified she will deteriorate further. If Tracey becomes permanently paralysed, she will no longer fit the criteria for Stem Cell Treatment and all hope will be lost. We, her family & friends refuse to sit back & watch that happen.
So this is our plea, on behalf of her husband, two boys, family, friends & all who have known and loved her, we are looking to raise £75000 in order to fund Stem Cell Treatment for Tracey. Please help us, no donation is too small and every single £1 is a lifeline for our beautiful friend, who, at the age of 41 is terrified of watching her life pass her by.
Thankyou, from the bottom of our hearts for reading this story, anything you can give to help this wonderful family will be overwhelmingly received & appreciated.
’& Tracey? We’ve got you sweetheart ❤️. From all your girls xxx
It was Monday, October 2015, Tracey Hergest (37) started her day just like any other, a wife to Rob Hergest, and mother to their two boys Sam (10) and Jacob (9). It was October half term and that day whilst on a family trip she noticed her finger was numb, within a very short amount of time this progressed to something very serious.
Within 48 hours Tracey was unable to walk, she had lost movement in her arms and her speech was slurred. As she was rushed to intensive care, her breathing unstable, the doctors and medical team were unsure what was happening.
This was the start of a very long and painful journey. Tracey remained in Hospital for the next 7 months, as her condition deteriorated she was moved from hospital to hospital and was eventually diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of Multiple Sclerosis at Kings College Hospital.
https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/what-is-ms
Tracey was unresponsive to treatment, the last attempt whilst being admitted being plasma exchange therapy.
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1895577-overview
Her treatment was cut short as she developed a blood clot on the lung. Recovery was slow but she was eventually transferred to Frank Cooksey Rehabilitation Unit to recover, before being discharged pending more treatment.
On returning home Tracey was wheelchair bound, unable to climb stairs, movement was minimal and she was in constant pain. Her ever doting husband became her carer and her children could do nothing but watch as their mum struggled through day to day. The concoction of medication left her sleepy & unresponsive the majority of the time. Tracey continued having tests, it was a long and heartbreaking 3 years for her and her family as she relapsed time & time again. With every relapse her MS progressed and her condition deteriorated further. The doctors tried everything to slow down the disease but nothing worked.
This was when Tracey first heard about Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Treatment, an amazing break through treatment that could halt the disease and vastly improve her quality of life.
https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/treatments-and-therapies/disease-modifying-therapies/hsct#
After being assessed, Tracey fell within the criteria for this treatment. There was a catch though, in order for her to access Stem Cell Therapy , she would first have to go through a lengthy treatment of immunotherapy, (Alemtuzumab) which would take around 2 years to complete, followed by three years of ‘Watch and wait’. Eager to get the ball rolling, Tracey started her first round of immunotherapy at the beginning of 2018, this was far from a cure, & due to the aggressive nature of her illness it would at best, slow its progression. Her only hope of getting the stem cell treatment on the NHS would be by going through the correct channels.
And this is why we are here...
Unfortunately the first round of treatment has left Tracey sick & paralysed for the last 4 months, she has relapsed twice in that time, every time Tracey relapses she suffers irreparable damage to her spine & nerve endings from this aggressive illness. If she continues this intensive treatment for another year, plus another three years after, we are terrified she will deteriorate further. If Tracey becomes permanently paralysed, she will no longer fit the criteria for Stem Cell Treatment and all hope will be lost. We, her family & friends refuse to sit back & watch that happen.
So this is our plea, on behalf of her husband, two boys, family, friends & all who have known and loved her, we are looking to raise £75000 in order to fund Stem Cell Treatment for Tracey. Please help us, no donation is too small and every single £1 is a lifeline for our beautiful friend, who, at the age of 41 is terrified of watching her life pass her by.
Thankyou, from the bottom of our hearts for reading this story, anything you can give to help this wonderful family will be overwhelmingly received & appreciated.
’& Tracey? We’ve got you sweetheart ❤️. From all your girls xxx
Organizer
Deanne Richards
Organizer
