Hannah's Stem Cell Treatment for MS
Hi there!
Most of you probably know my story but for those of you who don't I will briefly share my MS journey thus far. I was diagnosed in June of 2014 with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis via a MRI of my spine and brain. I was encouraged to start treatment right away as my Neurologist understood my MS was aggressive and already heavily progressed. I was in my early twenties so my body was able to push through a lot of my symptoms. I first started taking a drug called Copaxone which was an injection I did 3 times a week and 6 months later I had a follow up MRI. I had more lesions on my brain and spine and my Neurologist concluded that even if it was working it was not working enough to slow the progress at a rate that would be sufficient. We switched to an infusion drug called Tysabri which is was the most aggressive type of therapy/drug on the market. It was an immunosuppressant so consequently I got sick with every other thing I could have imagined on top of already just feeling like garbage from the MS. I stuck with it for 12 months because I believed that it would all worth it. It wasn't, I had another MRI and I had 5 additional lesions on my brain and the existing lesions had grown. I then was told they believed I was allergic to the drug anyways so I had to get off of it. So, I went back on Copaxone. I did those injections for about a month until I did an injection, had a reaction that was shockingly similar to the way my body reacted to the infusions and I didn't want to go down that road again. I needed to listen to my body.
I concluded that I felt better before I ever knew I had MS so I would go back to what I was doing then, which was nothing. By nothing, that meant taking my vitamins, changing my lifestyle, lowering my stress levels, etc. I have felt much better than I did on any therapy, however, I still continue to relapse and each relapse I experience is increasingly longer and more intense. Including complete numbness, tingling, optic neuritis, vertigo, pain, vision problems, depression, mood swings, speech problems and fatigue. I just can't imagine what the road will look like if I keep declining as a result of this degenerative disease. I’ve already let many of my goals and plans for my future fall by the wayside as I feel like I won’t be able to follow through if things keep going the way they are going and in addition, I honestly either can’t physically or I have no energy to pursue anything other than going to work (thankfully I have a desk job).
That brings me to WHY I AM HERE:
I am currently going through a relapse (which is going week 3) which includes my hands, feet, legs and mid-section being numb and tingly. I had mentoned it to one of my co-workers, Tiffney, as her sister has MS. Tiffney shared information on treatment her sister had enormous success with. The treatment is done by a company called Stemgenex Medical Group. I got in touch with Stemgenex and completed the medical history application and a few days later, I was officially approved as being eligible to receive the stem cell treatment, YAY!! However, my health insurance will not pay for this treatment as it is not FDA approved at this time. (Keep in mind, I was previously on FDA approved medications that had killed many MS patients) Unlike the medications I had been on, Stem Cell Treatment with adipose tissue has been shown to have NO SIDE EFFECTS as they will be using my own adipose (fat) tissue to process and then reintroduce to my system.
I am eager to try this therapy using my own tissue that has a real possibility to impact my daily life, future and those around me that count on me to be there.
My Goal is $15,900. That will cover my down payment due to make the appointment as well as the three day treatment.
https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Types-of-MS/Relapsing-remitting-MS
https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms-Diagnosis/MS-Symptoms
https://stemgenex.com/stem-cell-treatment/
Thank you everyone so very much. I love you all. :)
-Hannah
