Help Joe Ater stop Multiple Sclerosis (MS) W/HSCT
Donation protected
I'm reaching out to ask for assistance for my brother, Joe Ater, who is in need of a medical procedure that could cure or at least stop the progression of a debilitating disease.
Please take a moment to read his story, written by his wife, and prayerfully consider helping him - no amount is too small.
Joe’s Story:
Let me start by saying my husband, Joe Ater, is a wonderful person. I definitely have been blessed to have Joe in my life! He is an amazing husband, father, and Papo. Joe is a friend to many and a stranger to no one. Joe’s story is one I wish I would never have to share, however, Joe is currently facing the biggest fight of his life. He is urgently in need of a bone marrow stem cell transplant (HSCT) to halt his aggressive MS (Multiple Sclerosis).
In March of 2017, Joe was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, an incurable, neurodegenerative condition in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). It attacks the myelin sheath of the brain and the spinal cord leading to horrible disabilities and in some cases, even death from complications of MS. As the disease progresses, the nerves are destroyed partially or completely causing a person to have pain and lose functions throughout the body. Joe experiences numbness, pain, fatigue, short/long-term memory issues, balance issues, cramping, stiffness, and weakness. With each attack or flare up, Joe’s brain and spinal cord are being permanently damaged. But he continues to work and push through his pain every day.
Now, things have reached a new level of urgency as he finds himself struggling to walk, see, think, remember things, fight his fatigue, work, and manage his pain. The most recent active lesion is located in his thoracic spinal cord which controls the rib cage, balance, legs, lungs, diaphragm, and muscles that help you breathe---very painful, scary, and extremely serious. Joe has taken many disease-modifying therapies for his Multiple Sclerosis which have not worked. He is still continuing to progress with new and active lesions in his brain and spinal cord. Some of the drugs side effects have been so severe that he would rather stop the drugs and take his chances without any treatments.
Joe continually adjusts daily to his struggles with Multiple Sclerosis, heightening levels of pain and fatigue. But the MS progression is slowly impacting his independence, taking a toll on his quality of life, and undermining his ability to do the things he loves.
Joe has been accepted to be part of a clinical trial with a groundbreaking treatment called HSCT in Chicago at Northwestern Hospital by Dr. Richard Burt. Hundreds of people have already participated in clinical trials around the world, including the one at Chicago’s Northwestern University. HSCT stands for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant. This treatment harvests a person’s OWN stem cells from their bone marrow and then collects them out through the blood. The immune system is then broken down with chemotherapy drugs until it is almost completely gone. The patient’s stem cells then get transplanted back into their body and the “new immune system” starts to rebuild itself free of MS! The procedure works on “rebooting” the immune system, preventing it from further damage to the brain and spinal cord. This has had an 80% to 90% efficacy rate at halting this horrible debilitating disease. In recent years, many studies have been published supporting HSCT as an effective and promising treatment for MS. Links to the latest News about HSCT: National Multiple Sclerosis Society, articles, publications, and research.
For the first time in a long time, Joe and I have been incredibly hopeful since being accepted into the trial. Unfortunately, neither insurance nor research funds currently cover HSCT for Multiple Sclerosis for most patients. While there are clinics that currently do the procedure, all have high out-of-pocket costs. Joe’s insurance, Humana, denied him for HSCT. We appealed the insurance decision and were denied again. While HSCT may become an approved treatment in the 15-20 years, Joe can’t wait that long. He needs this transplant and needs it soon as each day brings him closer to losing the battle.
The results from the clinical trial will provide valuable information to guiding research which will lead to others who are suffering from MS a chance to live again. Given that this is one of our last hopes of slowing the progression of Joe’s MS, there is no question it is worth the time and energy. We look forward to the day Joe can take his grandbabies fishing without the struggles of MS!
Every bit of support will bring Joe closer to getting the treatment he needs and allow him to finally live a life without Multiple Sclerosis. There is so much of his livelihood that is dependent upon this procedure.
Say a prayer for Joe and our family. There is power in prayer and we couldn’t do this without all of your prayers and support. Pray for God’s continued guidance and healing hands to surround Joe in this time of need.
With much love,
Lee Anne and Joe Ater
Where your money will go:
Our goal is to raise at minimum $47,000 to help Joe with the following:
HSCT procedure costs that are not covered by insurance. The estimated out of pocket expenses for the procedure is $32,000.
Fuel cost (3 round trips from Central Kentucky to Chicago), food, hotel for Joe'swife to stay, parking, and loss of income estimated to be an additional $15,000.
Please consider making a donation of any amount if you are able.
Share this page to others to spread the word!
We will provide updates as Joe continues on this journey.
Thank you for all of your support and prayers!
Please take a moment to read his story, written by his wife, and prayerfully consider helping him - no amount is too small.
Joe’s Story:
Let me start by saying my husband, Joe Ater, is a wonderful person. I definitely have been blessed to have Joe in my life! He is an amazing husband, father, and Papo. Joe is a friend to many and a stranger to no one. Joe’s story is one I wish I would never have to share, however, Joe is currently facing the biggest fight of his life. He is urgently in need of a bone marrow stem cell transplant (HSCT) to halt his aggressive MS (Multiple Sclerosis).
In March of 2017, Joe was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, an incurable, neurodegenerative condition in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). It attacks the myelin sheath of the brain and the spinal cord leading to horrible disabilities and in some cases, even death from complications of MS. As the disease progresses, the nerves are destroyed partially or completely causing a person to have pain and lose functions throughout the body. Joe experiences numbness, pain, fatigue, short/long-term memory issues, balance issues, cramping, stiffness, and weakness. With each attack or flare up, Joe’s brain and spinal cord are being permanently damaged. But he continues to work and push through his pain every day.
Now, things have reached a new level of urgency as he finds himself struggling to walk, see, think, remember things, fight his fatigue, work, and manage his pain. The most recent active lesion is located in his thoracic spinal cord which controls the rib cage, balance, legs, lungs, diaphragm, and muscles that help you breathe---very painful, scary, and extremely serious. Joe has taken many disease-modifying therapies for his Multiple Sclerosis which have not worked. He is still continuing to progress with new and active lesions in his brain and spinal cord. Some of the drugs side effects have been so severe that he would rather stop the drugs and take his chances without any treatments.
Joe continually adjusts daily to his struggles with Multiple Sclerosis, heightening levels of pain and fatigue. But the MS progression is slowly impacting his independence, taking a toll on his quality of life, and undermining his ability to do the things he loves.
Joe has been accepted to be part of a clinical trial with a groundbreaking treatment called HSCT in Chicago at Northwestern Hospital by Dr. Richard Burt. Hundreds of people have already participated in clinical trials around the world, including the one at Chicago’s Northwestern University. HSCT stands for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant. This treatment harvests a person’s OWN stem cells from their bone marrow and then collects them out through the blood. The immune system is then broken down with chemotherapy drugs until it is almost completely gone. The patient’s stem cells then get transplanted back into their body and the “new immune system” starts to rebuild itself free of MS! The procedure works on “rebooting” the immune system, preventing it from further damage to the brain and spinal cord. This has had an 80% to 90% efficacy rate at halting this horrible debilitating disease. In recent years, many studies have been published supporting HSCT as an effective and promising treatment for MS. Links to the latest News about HSCT: National Multiple Sclerosis Society, articles, publications, and research.
For the first time in a long time, Joe and I have been incredibly hopeful since being accepted into the trial. Unfortunately, neither insurance nor research funds currently cover HSCT for Multiple Sclerosis for most patients. While there are clinics that currently do the procedure, all have high out-of-pocket costs. Joe’s insurance, Humana, denied him for HSCT. We appealed the insurance decision and were denied again. While HSCT may become an approved treatment in the 15-20 years, Joe can’t wait that long. He needs this transplant and needs it soon as each day brings him closer to losing the battle.
The results from the clinical trial will provide valuable information to guiding research which will lead to others who are suffering from MS a chance to live again. Given that this is one of our last hopes of slowing the progression of Joe’s MS, there is no question it is worth the time and energy. We look forward to the day Joe can take his grandbabies fishing without the struggles of MS!
Every bit of support will bring Joe closer to getting the treatment he needs and allow him to finally live a life without Multiple Sclerosis. There is so much of his livelihood that is dependent upon this procedure.
Say a prayer for Joe and our family. There is power in prayer and we couldn’t do this without all of your prayers and support. Pray for God’s continued guidance and healing hands to surround Joe in this time of need.
With much love,
Lee Anne and Joe Ater
Where your money will go:
Our goal is to raise at minimum $47,000 to help Joe with the following:
HSCT procedure costs that are not covered by insurance. The estimated out of pocket expenses for the procedure is $32,000.
Fuel cost (3 round trips from Central Kentucky to Chicago), food, hotel for Joe'swife to stay, parking, and loss of income estimated to be an additional $15,000.
Please consider making a donation of any amount if you are able.
Share this page to others to spread the word!
We will provide updates as Joe continues on this journey.
Thank you for all of your support and prayers!
Organizer and beneficiary
Jill Louderback
Organizer
Louisville, KY
Lee Anne DePaola Ater
Beneficiary