Appeal for Ellie’s life-prolonging op

Ellie recently turned 35. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) at the age of 26 but can trace her symptoms back to her teens. She is a mother to her 6 year old son and her day to day life is so impacted by this disease that she can no longer drive, do the school run, make spontaneous plans, or go out unaccompanied. In constant pain and a state of exhaustion, Ellie is weakened beyond all recognition, her memory fails her and her ability to concentrate on anything for even a short period of time is severely compromised. A self-declared ‘book sniffer’ she cannot now read a book as her eye tremors make the words jump around on the page. Her other great love is writing but concentrating is almost impossible, so this has also fallen by the wayside.

Recently her son and close friends climbed Pendle Hill. That night her son broke down crying, saying: ‘I want to climb Pendle Hill with you mummy, but you can’t do it, you never will be able to will you, you can’t get up there?’ Devastated by this Ellie is now determined to do whatever she can to relieve the increasingly worsening symptoms, and potentially lengthen her life. An operation called CCSVI  is available privately, and feedback from those who have undergone this procedure, is that it has the ability to vastly improve an MS sufferer’s quality of life.

It’s not currently a feasible option to have this operation in the UK but Ellie has found a clinic in Poland  where it will cost approximately £6000 including expenses. This fundraiser is to help Ellie cover the costs for the operation, as well as return airfares and accommodation for herself and a helper. Ellie didn’t ask for this fundraiser, though after long discussion has given her blessing for a public fundraiser to be set up.

In her own words Ellie feels imprisoned, and always having to rely on other people has led to a huge loss of independence. Before her diagnosis she was an avid traveller, loved the outdoors, and embraced life fully. Her career plans took a huge impact when she had to pull out of her Masters due to severe exhaustion aged 25. She took a part time job in a SureStart centre but even 20 hours a week left her weakened and relapsing, which is when she finally got diagnosed as having Multiple Sclerosis.

Read on to see how you can help to make a hugely positive impact to this bright young woman’s life.

About CCSVI (Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency)

Also known as MS liberation treatment, CCSVI is a minimally invasive breakthrough medical procedure that has been shown to relieve certain symptoms associated with Multiple Sclerosis, and in turn not only improve their life but also potentially extend it.

MS is a disease of the central nervous system primarily affecting adults aged 20-40. CCSVI is based on a theory that when the veins in the head and neck are narrowed or blocked, they are unable to efficiently move blood from the central nervous system. This degenerative disease, which affects more females than males, has been shown to severely compromise the veins in the neck, with over 80% of MS patient’s affected. A valve malformation or collapse of the veins in this area can have a hugely detrimental effect on an MS patient’s life, and can also be life-limiting.

There is currently a private clinic in Poland, where specialists in the CCSVI procedure treat MS patients, with great success. Ellie is planning to make the trip there for this procedure in early 2019 and needs to raise £6000 to cover the cost of the procedure, airfares, accommodation and living expenses for herself and a helper. We also hope to get Ellie a Ti Light ultra lightweight wheelchair. It would be empowering for her to regain a modicum of independence.

Without this procedure Ellie faces a future where the degenerative affects of this disease continue to take away what is left of her freedom, and potentially rob her, and her family, of her bright and beautiful life.

 How you can help

If you feel drawn to helping Ellie to raise these funds, please donate by clicking on this site. 

All money raised will go directly to Ellie’s procedure and expenses, and all donations need to be in by January 31st 2019, so Ellie can book her procedure, as well as flights and accommodation.

In helping Ellie, you not only have the potential to improve the quality of Ellie’s life, but also lengthen her life for herself and her little boy.

Your donations mean the world to us, thank you!

This campaign was created for Eleanor Ross by Tania Harassimiuk-Boardman. We met 11 years ago when we climbed a volcano in Ecuador together. The funds raised will go directly to Ellie for her operation and care. Thank you.

If you're curious to know more about the operation and it's potential results, there is an amazing documentary on Amazon Prime called Living Proof by Matt Embry. It can also be purchased or rented via YouTube
https://youtu.be/Fl_8xXbZrQM