Hi, Im Katie Valenta and I have MS. Here is a little bit of information about my MS. It is an auto immune disease. In easier words "myself attacks myself".  Symptoms  consist of waking up every morning not being able to feel my toes. I get weak legs almost every day. Sometimes, I can't feel my legs. I have fatigue and I get terrible migraines (least once per week or more). On a  side note about auto immune diseases, it tends to mess with your GI system, so now I have a gluten sensitivity.
This is just some of the struggles I experience daily.

Each person, who has MS, has a different story.
Here is my story about my MS.
In 2011, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
One day in February, I was working as a cashier at Nordstroms Rack. As I was helping a customer, I suddenly lost my hearing. I struggled listening to the cusomer until the checkout was done. I told the manager on duty I had to leave because I could not hear anything. I called my family to tell them to come pick me up immediately. I needed to be rushed the closest ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat Dr.) to get checked out right away. As I walked into the office, they brought me into the back to do some tests. They did the basic ear check with a Otoscope, my ears looked great. They did an X-Ray, my ears looked great. So finally, they decided to do an MRI. When the results came in the Doctor handed me a paper that stated, I had more than 20 lesions in my brain.  My diagnosis was Multiple Sclerosis.
I was confused, I didn't know what Multiple Sclerosis was. I was in tears. I was confused.
I asked God, "Why me?"
Instead of being down and feeling sorry for myself,
I picked my self up and wanted to do something about it. I accepted the challenges of having this disease. I wanted to be positive and accepting of having MS.

The next step I took was to go find a Neurologist that specializes in Multiple Sclerosis locally. Found the Best Neurologist that specialize only in Neurology Medicine,  Louisa Lavy, MD. I have been so blessed to have her as my Neurologist. She inspires me to go further to take on this disease and work with it.

After numerous appointments, MRI's, hospital treatments and mild relapes, Dr.Lavy and I both know that I am a candidate for a stem cell transplant in 2018.

I am excited to say that I can start saving money for the stem cell transplant. With your help, I can get this procedure done. This procedure will take place in Italy. The reason the procedure will take place in Italy, is because in the United States it is thousands of dollars more. The total cost for a stem cell transplant in Italy is $60,000-$70,000 after insurance, if they take it. That covers, the procedure, the chemo, travel expenses, caregiver and a place to stay. 
I am a stay home mom. I am not brining in any additional income. I make a difference with being a wife, and raising my children. That is the hardest job in the world. I am lucky that my wonderful husband works hard to provide what he can for his family. We live paycheck to paycheck. My goal in a few years is  to be able to be free of MS symptoms, and be a strong mom to my two children. I want to  be able to be MS symptom free when they get older. Having your help with not only help me with getting this procedure done, but will help with time. Time that I get with my 2 children and my husband enjoying the time of being MS symptoms and "attack" free.

The Best time for this procedure is when my body is young, healthy and can rebound from chemo. Having this procedure done before I'm in my 40's, is the Goal. The chances of me being handicapped or disabled is high the longer I wait. So, my personal goal to getting this done is when I'm 35. That gives me 3 years to get help.
 
What this procedure will do is reset my immune system and reverse some of the symptoms of my MS. It will help pro long my life.

This will be an adventure for me. This will be scary for me. This will be life changing for my family and I.  With your help in funding me, and many prayers, I will feel supported by those who care.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.