After 21 years....It's time to FIGHT MS!

Hi...I'm April Hovelson. I have had Multiple Sclerosis for 21 years. It's best to just start at the beginning. Back to when I was just starting adulthood. Hungry for independence, dominating in my chosen career as a dancer and choreographer, and studying hard doing online college courses before it was cool....always a trendsetter (cue sarcasm).

I was diagnosed at the age of 20 after a year of intrusive, humiliating, and painful tests. I had tingly feet that transitioned to completely numb feet (that strangely hurt ) and the feeling crept up my my legs until I was completely numb from the waist down as the year grew on. I remember, there was one doctor visit that had a room full of interns or students in which one of them suggested that my problems could be related to MS...There was a gasp in the room and the doctor said, "It is not MS. She is too young. She does not want MS." I was terrified. I had no idea what MS was...but I knew that was something that I did not want.

The very next doctors appointment, I had a spinal tap and it was confirmed that I had the markers for MS. An official diagnosis. The nurse brought in pamphlets with information all about MS and pointed to the picture of a woman in a wheelchair on the cover.

I couldn't believe what was happening! I had my whole life ahead of me as a dancer who loved being athletic. I was a mover. I don't sit still. And you're telling me that I'm going to be in a wheelchair??

That was the beginning of the fight.

I allowed myself a week to feel sorry for myself. And then I researched everything there was to know and do about MS and came up with my own plan. I wasn't going to take this sitting down. No way.

I switched my diet to vegan, then vegetarian, and then a pescatarian for 20 years. I started lifting weights to keep strong and continued to dance.

I started on the first drug (back when there were only 3) Avonex. That drug put me into a horrible flu once a week. Chills, fever, body aches, nausea...you name it. I did that every week on my one day off from teaching dance. On Saturday nights, I would inject my thigh muscle with a huge needle and then the fun would start overnight. It was awful. And I did that for a year and half until one day, I injected the meds directly into a vein, and it all hit me FAST and hard. It was the worst day in my memory. And that was all it took for me to be done with meds. I was going to deal with symptoms on my own.

I had several major relapses that affected my legs, arms, back, and various other places at times for about 5 years. With MS, you never know when, what, and how it is going to hit but when it does...your body becomes something you don't know and cant control. These relapses are usually controlled with hours of infusions, for days, with steroids....which help to stop the relapse and bring you back to normal.

So that was my life. Dance and live life, relapse, get steroids....go back to normal. Relapse Remitting MS. Horrible when it was happening, but normal when it wasn't. Now I only wish for those times....

In 2020, I had a major relapse after almost 10 years of remission while I was having kids. The pandemic and the stress involved brought on one hell of a shit storm.

We were living with my in laws in Minnesota and suddenly my leg was dragging, I had fatigue like you wouldn't believe and my balance was nonexistent. I got steroids at Mayo Clinic and got a little better but never fully recovered.

I had to quit dancing. My feet couldn't move like I wanted or needed and I tripped on my left foot way more frequently. I start to slip into a depression.

As a solution to my sudden identity crisis, I became certified as a personal trainer.

I felt so proud of my new career choice. I was able to help women get control of their bodies and focus on building strength. As a woman who has been studying her body for years and loves more than anything to teach, it came so naturally.

I had a new focus. A new passion. And I was feeling fulfilled.

Until my leg kept getting worse. And my symptoms continued to get worse.

I was told that I have Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

That means that I will continually get worse and never return to normal. Previous relapses will "ripen" and will show up again. But more importantly....I will never go back to "normal." I will never dance again.

Then I got COVID in December. My immune system has continued to ravage my body at a rapid rate and symptoms are collecting faster than we expected.

So we have decided to fight this battle with a stem cell transplant.

It'll be a huge huge endeavor. And a major investment. But an investment that I need to make in order for the best quality of life for my three boys.

It'll be aggressive chemotherapy. I'll lose my hair. And I will have zero immune system for months. But my body will get the chance to rebuild itself without the memory of ever having MS and will have an 80 percent chance of never getting worse. Arresting MS in its tracks.

Me, however, I'm aiming for the 2 percent chance of regaining all mobility, and going full remission! YES! Yes! Yes! Go big or go home has been my motto since competition entered my world.

Where that $99,000 goes:

$85,000 for full treatment, meds, and care at facility

$1,000 Car rentals

$2,000 Hotels/Apartment/places to stay

$4,000 for flights back and forth for me and Andrew

$1,000 for meds to purchase for continued care when I'm home

$4,000 Care for the kids with flights/last minute care...this is a guess. Who knows what will happen.

I'm doing this for my kids, for Andrew, for my quality of life and so that I can continue the work that I started with my online coaching business that I love so much. When your body becomes your enemy, it is truly traumatic. And I want to be able to help the many who find themselves in a similar situation.

I appreciate every one who supports me in this effort...truly truly

So much love,

April