Donation protected
Hi everyone, many of you know my sister, Maria Isabel, has been struggling with MS (multiple sclerosis) for close to 30 years. In the very beginning of her journey when she was diagnosed, we were all shocked and probably in denial. When she recuperated from her initial episodes, it seems that the disease went dormant for years. She did not take any medication, she did not go on an alternative diet or take supplements to help eliminate inflammation. In essence she went on with her life as she had in the past. So out of sight, out of mind. Except that’s not how the disease works.
In the last five years, Maria’s symptoms have grown progressively worse. She described her legs as feeling like “tree trunks” with a heaviness that is becoming more and more debilitating. Her cognitive skills have been impaired with what’s referred to as “brain fog”. She has been on one of the most toxic drugs, Ocrevus, since it’s been approved with no signs of improvement. In fact, her MS is getting more progressive than ever.
She is 63 years old and we’ve decided we need to do everything we can to beat this disease. We need to halt the progression.
With your help, we need to raise $55,000. to pay for a HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant). This protocol is being performed in Mexico and Russia for more than 20 years for many autoimmune diseases and in the last 7 years, they have opened their doors to the international MS community. We plan on visiting Clinica Ruiz in Puebla, Mexico in late June for a period of 28 days for this treatment. They have served over 1,000 MS survivors with 40% of those patients from the US and Uk and Canada making up the difference. The results have given us so much hope and we can not prolong this decision any longer. The success rate for not only halting the progression of MS but the possibility of some regeneration of nerve endings is 65% to 75% for Maria’s MS stage.
The procedure is the harvesting of her own cells from the bone marrow through a process called “apheresis” and then treated with a high dose of chemotherapy to eradicate the malignant cells. At this point, Maria’s own stored stem cells are then transfused into her bloodstream, where they replace destroyed tissue and resume her normal blood-cell production.
Randomized clinical trials has showed that HSCT significantly prolonged time to disease progression compared to disease modifying therapy (DMT or in other words MS medication). Long term outcomes in patients have showed that remission after HSCT therapy is possible when caught early enough.
Clinical trials are sponsored by major pharmaceutical companies and they have no incentive to fight or even possibly cure these autoimmune diseases since the costs of these drugs they manufacture for MS are anywhere between $50,000. to $100,000 annually per patient. The Hematology Association of America has recognized and published the benefits of this procedure but the NIH or FDA are years away from authorizing this treatment. Many US trials are underway for patients with a very rigid profile which Maria does not fit into.
So we are going to get this done where over 1,000 MS survivors have had the procedure. They have shared their wonderful, beautiful stories of hope and inspiration. I promise you all, that with your help, I will share Maria’s story of success as she engages in her new life journey.
Help us reach our goal!! If we get 1,000 people at $50.00 or 2,000 at $25.00 each - we will have done it!!! The truth is any donation, from $5.00 to $50.00 or more - is going to help make this possible to help Maria for the rest of her life. Please spread the word to all of your friends and family. Our promise to all of you is that “we will pay it forward”.
I can’t tell you how grateful we are to all of you for helping us win this battle and making sure we kick MS into remission forever.
Thank you for your kindness, thoughts and prayers. ❤️
In the last five years, Maria’s symptoms have grown progressively worse. She described her legs as feeling like “tree trunks” with a heaviness that is becoming more and more debilitating. Her cognitive skills have been impaired with what’s referred to as “brain fog”. She has been on one of the most toxic drugs, Ocrevus, since it’s been approved with no signs of improvement. In fact, her MS is getting more progressive than ever.
She is 63 years old and we’ve decided we need to do everything we can to beat this disease. We need to halt the progression.
With your help, we need to raise $55,000. to pay for a HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant). This protocol is being performed in Mexico and Russia for more than 20 years for many autoimmune diseases and in the last 7 years, they have opened their doors to the international MS community. We plan on visiting Clinica Ruiz in Puebla, Mexico in late June for a period of 28 days for this treatment. They have served over 1,000 MS survivors with 40% of those patients from the US and Uk and Canada making up the difference. The results have given us so much hope and we can not prolong this decision any longer. The success rate for not only halting the progression of MS but the possibility of some regeneration of nerve endings is 65% to 75% for Maria’s MS stage.
The procedure is the harvesting of her own cells from the bone marrow through a process called “apheresis” and then treated with a high dose of chemotherapy to eradicate the malignant cells. At this point, Maria’s own stored stem cells are then transfused into her bloodstream, where they replace destroyed tissue and resume her normal blood-cell production.
Randomized clinical trials has showed that HSCT significantly prolonged time to disease progression compared to disease modifying therapy (DMT or in other words MS medication). Long term outcomes in patients have showed that remission after HSCT therapy is possible when caught early enough.
Clinical trials are sponsored by major pharmaceutical companies and they have no incentive to fight or even possibly cure these autoimmune diseases since the costs of these drugs they manufacture for MS are anywhere between $50,000. to $100,000 annually per patient. The Hematology Association of America has recognized and published the benefits of this procedure but the NIH or FDA are years away from authorizing this treatment. Many US trials are underway for patients with a very rigid profile which Maria does not fit into.
So we are going to get this done where over 1,000 MS survivors have had the procedure. They have shared their wonderful, beautiful stories of hope and inspiration. I promise you all, that with your help, I will share Maria’s story of success as she engages in her new life journey.
Help us reach our goal!! If we get 1,000 people at $50.00 or 2,000 at $25.00 each - we will have done it!!! The truth is any donation, from $5.00 to $50.00 or more - is going to help make this possible to help Maria for the rest of her life. Please spread the word to all of your friends and family. Our promise to all of you is that “we will pay it forward”.
I can’t tell you how grateful we are to all of you for helping us win this battle and making sure we kick MS into remission forever.
Thank you for your kindness, thoughts and prayers. ❤️
Co-organisers (2)
Marylou Barreiro
Organiser
Union, NJ
Maria Isabel Barreiro
Co-organiser