Dimitri's Multiple Sclerosis Fight

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an incurable disabling autoimmune disease damaging the central nervous system.
Only 0.02% of people worldwide have been diagnosed with this disease to date.

I was in the prime of my life. My wife Lisa was pregnant with our first child and life couldn’t have been any better. On September 16th, 2017 I recall waking up that morning with what I thought was a sore back and numbness down the left-hand side of my body.

Initially, I thought I’ve done something to my back hoping it was muscle damage or a pinched nerve. As the day went on it didn’t get any better, yet I kept hoping this would just subside. Deep within me, however, I just knew I wasn’t right. My instincts were telling me this is not just a “sore back”. I was simply afraid to face the doctors, for the news that would change my life. I spent the next few days in pain dragging myself around, my body feeling heavier and heavier. As time went on I succumbed to the pain and numbness and was rushed to the hospital.

That day my life changed forever.



The neurologists walked into the room, And told me & my wife “you have MS” followed by “from the morning you woke up like this your life will never be the same again”.



These words will play in my mind repeatedly in my darkest moments. I was reassured that medications can really help with all the MS symptoms and reduce future episodes and truthfully I was content with this notion at the time.

I had to be positive I had a baby girl on the way and had to be able for her for when she needs me the most. I wasn’t going to let MS ruin the happiest time of my life, the birth of my child. The first 2 months post the steroid infusion I felt great, my strength had come back.

Life can be “normal,” I thought. But just when I thought I felt right and had won the golden ticket with MS meds MS had other ideas. Exhaustion started to kick in, I began to get sharp pains in my spine, arms, legs, and hands followed by blurred vision & muscle spasms resulted in me becoming immobile for a time.

The MS drugs simply did not work for me. Episode after episode, more attacks. The impact it having on my mental health, the realization that there is NO CURE keeps ringing in my head.  All I want in this life is to be a loving, caring & able dad to my young family and I will not leave any stone unturned on my quest.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for MS in Russia, is delivering the best results to date. Stopping the progression of the disease @ an 85% success rate.

It’s extremely unfortunate that this treatment, is only available in Australia for MS patients with a strict criteria, once the disease has actually resulted in significant unrepairable damage.

With God in my heart and support of all family & friends, I am prepared to try HSCT. I for one will not sit back waiting and wondering what tomorrow may bring in the form of this disability.