Bike 700km for MS (my aunt)
Donation protected
My grandmother (joanne pinkerton gallant) talking.
Tina diaz gallant and her ex husband (javier) were married and had a little boy named Marcos who is now 18 years old and has a little boy of his own. Javier left them both when Marcos was five years old. But let me back up a bit.
Shortly after Tina gave birth to Marcos she keep complaining about her feet being numb. After many doctors visits and the doctor telling her that it was a pinched nerve I finally got my boss Dr Chen who was a pediatrician to check her out. Right away he knew there was soming wrong and ordered a MR which confirmed she had MS.
At that time we didin't know much about MS so although we were upset we were not devestated as we were sure they would find a cure soon and we didn't know know how bad she would get.
She spent many visits to St Michaels hospital in Toronto and at one point they ordered chemotherapy for her which put her into menopause and gave her osteoporosis.
Over the years she has been on Ribif, a shot we would give her which did not work. She has been to a naturalopath and taken many different vitimines, She has seen a Mexican Shaman and he gave her all kinds of medicines. She tried something called Procarin that also was injected. We went to see a healer in Toronto. Can't remember his name. About 6 years ago we took her to Costa Rica and had the procedure called CCSVI because at that time there was the opinion that it may be a vascular problem. This helped her with her circulation as her legs would turn blue and after this procedure this problem was much better.
Over the years Tina had remained hopeful and mostly has a happy spirit.
She went from a cane to a walker, to a wheelchair and for a while she could handle her electric wheelchair but now she cannot not see well enough to use this and her co ordination is that it is not a good idea for her to even try.
At this point she spends most of her days in bed except for 2 days a week when I push her to the mall and we have a day out. If she is tired her head will fall and then we have to get home because ii is painful for her to try to hold her head up. Her speach is now compromised and at lot of the time its hard to understand her which makes it so frustrating for her..
Over the years she has had help with the Red Cross, which we are thankful for. Her son Marcos has been an enormous help since he was 5 years old, now he has his own family but still checks in on her at least twice a day.
About 6 years ago, I decided that I would try to take her back to Mexico because the weather seemed to make her feel better. At that time we came across a physiotherapist and he worked with her a lot in a pool. We have been going back almost every year because she seems to be more alive and happy there.
At this time there is no cure for her and our only wish is to see her happy at this point. We would so much like to try the stemcells but with all the red tape and politics it is almost impossible to be excepted but we are still trying.
My grandson Dion Gallant is going to do a bike ride to ThunderBay to try to raise money for us to get back to Mexico again this winter as our resourses have run out. It is extremly hard now for me to take care of her on my own so we are hoping to be able to hire someone to help out when we get there.
I know there are a lot more causes that may be more important but as a mother you do what you can to make your children happy. I am so thankful to my grandson Dion for doing this for her. I lost one son 2 years ago and Dion lost his Dad, so we want Tina to be as happy as she can be for as long a she can be.
My perspective (Dion the "cyclist" lol)
My whole life my aunt and grandmother have been really close to me. We have been very hopeful in finding a cure or even something to stop the MS or make it more tolerable but it has just increasingly been getting worse and we are at the point where its just a waiting game for something (cure) to develop. Since my grandmother wrote her letter she has talked to a doctor in ottawa about the stem cell research and all she needs is a referral from someone up here to get the process started, So this funding might be towards something much better then not having to deal with being stuck inside for 6 months of our winter, we are hopeful! I start my journey september 10th (day after my first borns first day of school) and my bike route will be from Sault Ste. Marie Ontario to Thunder bay Ontario up highway 17. It is approx 700km and is arguably the worst/toughest/most dangerous rides in Canada because of the winding roads, the hills, the numerous transports and the fact that it has no shoulder. I have not had as much time to train for it as id of liked to due to work/kids but ill make it there either way even if in the end the name will have to be changed to "crawl for MS" lol. my goal is 140km/day which would mean that i would make it in 5 days. i will be sleeping in a hammock tent on the side of the road and eating where i can. I am just happy that i have this opportunity to try and make a difference and hopefully will continue this every year for another great cause with maybe more then just myself participating. The goal is 5000$ but anything is good, that was just a random number. We appreciate anything that is donated. I do not know how much this stem cell thing is going to cost because i have just found out about it yesterday but 5000$ would ensure a winter down in mexico for sure if that doesnt pan out. Wish me luck and thank you for anything you decide to donate to this great cause!
Tina diaz gallant and her ex husband (javier) were married and had a little boy named Marcos who is now 18 years old and has a little boy of his own. Javier left them both when Marcos was five years old. But let me back up a bit.
Shortly after Tina gave birth to Marcos she keep complaining about her feet being numb. After many doctors visits and the doctor telling her that it was a pinched nerve I finally got my boss Dr Chen who was a pediatrician to check her out. Right away he knew there was soming wrong and ordered a MR which confirmed she had MS.
At that time we didin't know much about MS so although we were upset we were not devestated as we were sure they would find a cure soon and we didn't know know how bad she would get.
She spent many visits to St Michaels hospital in Toronto and at one point they ordered chemotherapy for her which put her into menopause and gave her osteoporosis.
Over the years she has been on Ribif, a shot we would give her which did not work. She has been to a naturalopath and taken many different vitimines, She has seen a Mexican Shaman and he gave her all kinds of medicines. She tried something called Procarin that also was injected. We went to see a healer in Toronto. Can't remember his name. About 6 years ago we took her to Costa Rica and had the procedure called CCSVI because at that time there was the opinion that it may be a vascular problem. This helped her with her circulation as her legs would turn blue and after this procedure this problem was much better.
Over the years Tina had remained hopeful and mostly has a happy spirit.
She went from a cane to a walker, to a wheelchair and for a while she could handle her electric wheelchair but now she cannot not see well enough to use this and her co ordination is that it is not a good idea for her to even try.
At this point she spends most of her days in bed except for 2 days a week when I push her to the mall and we have a day out. If she is tired her head will fall and then we have to get home because ii is painful for her to try to hold her head up. Her speach is now compromised and at lot of the time its hard to understand her which makes it so frustrating for her..
Over the years she has had help with the Red Cross, which we are thankful for. Her son Marcos has been an enormous help since he was 5 years old, now he has his own family but still checks in on her at least twice a day.
About 6 years ago, I decided that I would try to take her back to Mexico because the weather seemed to make her feel better. At that time we came across a physiotherapist and he worked with her a lot in a pool. We have been going back almost every year because she seems to be more alive and happy there.
At this time there is no cure for her and our only wish is to see her happy at this point. We would so much like to try the stemcells but with all the red tape and politics it is almost impossible to be excepted but we are still trying.
My grandson Dion Gallant is going to do a bike ride to ThunderBay to try to raise money for us to get back to Mexico again this winter as our resourses have run out. It is extremly hard now for me to take care of her on my own so we are hoping to be able to hire someone to help out when we get there.
I know there are a lot more causes that may be more important but as a mother you do what you can to make your children happy. I am so thankful to my grandson Dion for doing this for her. I lost one son 2 years ago and Dion lost his Dad, so we want Tina to be as happy as she can be for as long a she can be.
My perspective (Dion the "cyclist" lol)
My whole life my aunt and grandmother have been really close to me. We have been very hopeful in finding a cure or even something to stop the MS or make it more tolerable but it has just increasingly been getting worse and we are at the point where its just a waiting game for something (cure) to develop. Since my grandmother wrote her letter she has talked to a doctor in ottawa about the stem cell research and all she needs is a referral from someone up here to get the process started, So this funding might be towards something much better then not having to deal with being stuck inside for 6 months of our winter, we are hopeful! I start my journey september 10th (day after my first borns first day of school) and my bike route will be from Sault Ste. Marie Ontario to Thunder bay Ontario up highway 17. It is approx 700km and is arguably the worst/toughest/most dangerous rides in Canada because of the winding roads, the hills, the numerous transports and the fact that it has no shoulder. I have not had as much time to train for it as id of liked to due to work/kids but ill make it there either way even if in the end the name will have to be changed to "crawl for MS" lol. my goal is 140km/day which would mean that i would make it in 5 days. i will be sleeping in a hammock tent on the side of the road and eating where i can. I am just happy that i have this opportunity to try and make a difference and hopefully will continue this every year for another great cause with maybe more then just myself participating. The goal is 5000$ but anything is good, that was just a random number. We appreciate anything that is donated. I do not know how much this stem cell thing is going to cost because i have just found out about it yesterday but 5000$ would ensure a winter down in mexico for sure if that doesnt pan out. Wish me luck and thank you for anything you decide to donate to this great cause!
Organizer
Dion Gallant
Organizer
Sault Sainte Marie, ON