My name is Joseph, and I am raising money for my wife Marija, who has lived with a very aggressive course of Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis for almost 11 years.

Marija uses an electric wheelchair and needs help with many basic parts of everyday life, including dressing, bathing, getting into bed, changing position and using the toilet safely. I am her full-time caregiver, and together we are raising our son, who has autism and needs extra support as he grows.

Over the years, Marija has tried many different approaches... medical, pharmaceutical, alternative and everything in between. The Medical Medium lifestyle and protocol is the approach that, in her own experience, has made the biggest difference in how she feels and functions.

When she is able to follow it consistently, she feels stronger, more stable and better able to cope physically. When finances force her to cut back, she feels the difference in her body.

The problem is that this protocol is expensive and is not covered by healthcare in the Netherlands.

It involves specific healing foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs, juices, smoothies, shots and supplements used as part of her daily routine. Many of these foods are needed in larger quantities because they are juiced or used in concentrated recipes. These are additional costs on top of our family's normal groceries and household expenses.

Because Marija cannot work and our family lives on one caregiver income, we simply cannot afford to consistently provide everything she needs.

Lately, she has had to reduce many of the foods and supplements she normally relies on, and she can feel the difference.

One day our son asked Marija to sit with him at the table.

She told him, “I’ll stay with you until the day I die.”

He answered, “Mommy, you can’t die. You’re my best friend.”

That is what she is fighting for.

Marija knows there are things MS may never give back to her. She may never walk again or regain much of the independence she has lost.

But more than anything, she wants to stay here long enough to see our son grow up and to know that we have helped guide him onto a safe path.

Donations help Marija pay for the specific foods, juices, smoothie and shot ingredients, herbs and supplements she uses as part of her protocol so she can continue doing everything possible to stay as strong and functional as she can.

We are not asking for a miracle.

We are asking for help giving Marija the best possible chance to stay strong, present and here for our son for as long as possible.

If you are able to donate, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

And if you cannot donate, sharing this fundraiser can help enormously too.

Thank you for reading and for caring.

Joseph & Marija