Diminishing Multiple Sclerosis for Good

"Glass half full, always." That is the only way to look at life. My name is Monique and I am a wife of 7 years and a mother of 2 girls, 20 years old and 14 years old. My kids are my life I would do anything to make sure they are okay. After all that I have been through in life, I will always find the light at the end of the tunnel and remain positive. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in July 2011. That will forever be engrained in me because I finally got an answer to what was happening to me for all of those months before. I remember dropping to the ground because my leg gave out and experiencing severe agony. People walked right past me as if I didn't exist. After a few minutes, this man saw me on the ground and helped the best he could. I am forever grateful for his kindness. That began my journey. After being blind twice in each eye, the next major incident was vertigo in 2012. For 8 months, I had to stay at a 45 degree angle at all times and could not eat or drink. It had gotten so bad that my body started eating itself and deteriorating, but God had a plan for me! I found a new Neurologist that took me from walking with a walker, to a cane, to running 5Ks! I did very well for the next 5 years until he left the practice I was attending. While trying to figure it all out, the replacement Neurologist took me off of everything and my body declined. I found a way to get back with the Neurologist that helped me before. I walked into his office with my walker crying. Because the damage that was done was irreversible, I cannot run anymore. I also now have issues walking (hence my falling all of the time) issues talking at certain times (sounding drunk with no alcohol is no fun..lol), Trigeminal Neuralgia (severe facial pain and burning), and Occipital Neuralgia (sever pain and burning at the base of my skull). It has been an interesting and often times painful journey. I fill my days with my Paparazzi business when I am able to as it provides happy and peaceful time for me.. I don't believe my story is over yet and I am ready to start a new chapter. My Neurologist spoke to me about HSCT (Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) in 2019. It starts off with vigirous testing to be sure my body can do it. Once that is determined and the procedure starts, they remove some of my own stem cells, do chemotherapy for 4 days, and then put my stem cells back into my body to essentially "reboot" my immune system. Once certain blood counts are achieved, I can come back home (they will not release me from the hospital until it is safe). After reading up on it and researching, I have determined that it will prove very beneficial. Unfortunately, it is not something  the medical insurances will cover for MS patients so we are stuck going overseas and paying for it ourselves. l am ready to stop this Multiple Sclerosis dead in its' tracks. After confirming with God this is the way to go, I am more determined than ever. ❤