My name is Jennifer Cheatwood, and I am living with progressive multiple sclerosis. I need to raise $57,500 by September 23, 2026, for a stem cell treatment that could help stop my disease from progressing.

MS has taken so much from me over the years—my energy, my independence, and parts of my life I can’t get back. Now I have a chance to fight back, but I cannot do it alone.

My journey with MS started before I even knew what was wrong. Around 2008, I began having balance issues and moments where I would lose my place during activity. At the time, I didn’t understand what was happening—I just knew something wasn’t right.

In 2012, while I was in college, I was officially diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Looking back, so many things finally made sense. I had been pushing myself to the limit just to keep up—staying up all night to study so I wouldn’t forget, struggling with memory, exhaustion, and focus.

Even with those challenges, I earned my accounting degree in 2015. I adjusted my goals and kept going, determined to build a stable life. But as time went on, MS made it harder to maintain jobs, harder to stay steady on my feet, and harder to function day to day.

By 2017, the fatigue became overwhelming. I spent nearly two years mostly in bed. It’s hard to explain what that does to a person—to miss out on life, to not have the energy to even do basic things like eat or get up. That was one of the lowest points of my life.

I continued to fight. Treatments like Ocrevus helped for a time and gave me some stability, but MS is a progressive disease. Even when treatments work, the damage that’s already there continues to affect you. Over time, my symptoms have worsened—impacting my mobility, memory, and independence.

In 2020, during a divorce, I lost my health insurance and went over a year without treatment. That period was one of the most stressful times in my life. I was trying to find work while struggling with my health, living with family, and facing constant uncertainty.

I kept going. I worked when I could, applied for disability, and did everything I could to stay afloat. In December 2023, I broke my ankle, which set me back even further. After that, I lost my job and had no income while still waiting for disability approval.

After years of waiting, I was finally approved for disability in December 2025. While that brought some relief, it also confirmed the reality of where I am in this journey.

MS has changed my life in ways I never expected—but I am still here, still fighting, and still hoping for a chance at something better.

Now, I have an opportunity that could change the course of my life.

I have been accepted for a stem cell treatment (HSCT) that is designed to “reset” the immune system and help stop MS from continuing to progress. This treatment gives me hope—hope to hold onto the life I still have and to be more present for the people I love.

My treatment is scheduled for November 23, 2026, and the total cost is $57,500, which must be paid in full by September 23, 2026. Unfortunately, this procedure is not covered by insurance, and it is far beyond what I can afford on my own.

I am asking for help.

Any donation, no matter the amount, brings me one step closer to this treatment. If you are not able to give, sharing my story would mean just as much.

I don’t want MS to decide who I get to be or take me away from the life and people I love. This is my chance to fight back—and I am doing everything I can to take it.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, for your support, and for being part of this journey with me.