"You don’t look sick”

"You don’t look sick”........I get that a lot.

In 2018 I was the busiest I have ever been professionally. As a Makeup Artist, my studio was a revolving door with new and repeat clients. Weddings, events, TV work. I was scouted and hired as a lead MUA for an upcoming film in Boston. My team went from just myself to five others working out of Studio 28.

I also had opened the cutest lil Boutique with all that glitters named Dress Code Boutique.

And if that wasn’t enough, I took on the role of a Director for Massachusetts in pageantry!!

My family and personal life was just as fast-paced. It was non-stop all the time.

The signs were knocking, but I wasn’t listening....

With all of my success, I was feeling extreme exhaustion like never before.. hard to get out of bed in the mornings and the headaches were coming on fast and strong and would last for days. Sleep didn’t fix the fatigue. I was so tired that I began to trip and fall, and my legs felt like spaghetti.....sometimes I was even too tired to speak. I did an entire year of "testing" before a Spinal Tap confirmed my diagnosis of Progressive MS. Like so many before me, I was misdiagnosed in the beginning. I started treatment in 2019, or should I say “managing” this disease as there is no cure. I was fighting hard to try and keep my same lifestyle and work habits, but this disease had other plans, and so did 2020. My life, as I knew, had forever changed. I needed to do something...but what? My health is declining at a rapid pace.

I have tried many natural remedies, high doses of supplements, changing my diet, Wahls protocol, Medical Medium, various physical therapies and exercises and of course, the "recommended western medicine" from my Doctors. Unfortunately, no matter how hard I try and fight this disease on my own...nothing is working.

After a conversation with my Neurologist in January of 2022 stating that I wasn't responding to any treatments... I left feeling defeated and hopeless and so very sad and asking my body .....Why??? I just couldn't comprehend that I had to "settle," and this disease was in control of my life and every decision I make.

As I researched for the "constant cure," I came upon Clinica Ruiz HSCT for MS and Autoimmune Diseases in Mexico. I was very intrigued by what I was reading and learning from over 3300 stem cell transplant patients through the years at Clinica Ruiz. I was like a sponge soaking in everything and anything I could find on this Clinic. I was so amazed by what I was learning from actual patients and their success stories that I knew I may have found a sign of "hope." I started interviewing former patients, reading their blogs and journals of their life's stories and living with MS and their treatment in Mexico.

All the complications from their MS I could relate to...but what I wanted most was hopefully to be a success story and have a second chance living a life free from my MS diagnosis and actually halting the progression once and for all.

I contacted Clinica Ruiz and was provided in-depth treatment information. Although this will be no cakewalk whatsoever I have to try. One patient I interviewed gave this example - You are on a railroad track, and you have two levers...one lever will slow down progression with medications for the rest of your life, the other lever will be a difficult procedure with risks but the benefit is to STOP the disease progressing any further....which one are you going to pull?

My choice was clear......and with an 80% success rate, I have signed myself up for my HSCT journey. This treatment is not offered in the US. It is not covered by any insurance and is all out of pocket. The cost is $54,500. I am looking to raise any funds to help offset the cost of this life-changing procedure. My promise is to share all my research and help raise awareness for HSCT for others who also suffer that there could be hope on the horizon.

We will become stronger, healthier and wiser. After all, “Pressure makes a diamond,” right?

Stacey Frasca

Progress MS 12-20-18

#youdontlooksick