Life changing treatment for Tracy
Donation protected
ABOUT ME
Hello I'm Tracy. I'm 52 and work part-time for a local charity. I live in Sussex with my husband Steve and my Border Terrier called Red.
I received the devastating news of the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in December 2014, and it has become very aggressive over the last 12 months, making my life increasingly difficult. I've always been a very active person, walking miles accross the south downs where we live, and have a positive outlook on life, but MS has stopped me from enjoying the things I once took for granted, and the physical and pyschological effects of this are debilitating.
I NEED YOUR HELP TO ACCESS LIFE-CHANGING TREATMENT!
What is MS?
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, progressive neurological auto-immune disease, which affects the central nervous system. My own immune system is attacking my brain and the covering (myelin) around the spinal cord, causing significant disability, and in an indeterminate amount of time will progress to the point that i will need to use a wheelchair and will totally lose my independence.
Day to Day life for Tracy
In the past twelve months my MS has progressed at an alarming rate and become very aggressive. I have virtually lost the use of my right hand and arm (I am right-handed), constantly trip over and lose my balance, and experience severe fatigue and short-term memory loss. As a result i have had to reduce my working hours to part-time, and the everyday tasks that I used to take for granted, (ironing, cooking) feel like a monumental task. I fear it will affect my ability to drive, as I can no longer turn a key. I used to enjoy walking for miles, but now i struggle to walk a short distance before becoming exhausted. I've always been incredibly independent, and having to adjust to my limitations and accept help Is frustrating to say the least.
My husband Steve is an ex Para who fought in the Falklands, and he is alongside me fighting this constant and debilitating battle. He is incredibly supportive, but feels equally frustrated at the many ways MS is impacting our lives and future plans.
Hard Facts
My last MRI showed an increase in lesions on my brain and spinal cord, which prove that my MS is highly aggressive and progressing at an alarming rate. I have recently started on a drug treatment, which is administered by monthly 2 hour infusions at hospital. This drug treatment is an attempt to reduce the number of attacks (relapses) i have, but it carries significant risks, including a potentially fatal brain condition called PML, for which I am monitored closely. Since starting this treatment i have been plagued with side effects (nausea, passing out) and an increase in fatigue, which is incredibly debilitating.
The nature of MS is that a further attack could happen at any time and would result in disabling me further, and if i lose the use of the left hand i will no longer be able to work. Relapses come completely out of the blue, and the next one could potenially result in putting me in a wheelchair. Our finances have already taken a hit through a reduction in my ability to work full-time, and if i can no longer work, i can't save for the life-changing treatment I need.
YOU CAN HELP ME TO ACCESS LIFE-CHANGING TREATMENT!
HSCT treatment has given me real hope of beating MS for good!
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) effectively 're-boots' the immune system, essentially 'restoring the factory settings' and halts any further progress of this awful disease, and STOPS MS IN IT'S TRACKS.
It is a ground-breaking treatment, which uses the patient's own harvested stem cells following a high dose of chemotherapy. This may seem drastic, but HSCT treatment has been proven in clinical trials to STOP DISEASE ACTIVITY in over 80% of patients with active, relapsing and remitting MS, such as myself. Sadly this treatment is not yet available on the NHS, and is unlikely to become available until further clinical trials have taken place, which will be over the next few years. I do not have years to STOP MS.
MS will severely STOP ME over the next few years from doing all of the things i used to enjoy.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
HSCT treatment has been available in Mexico and Russia for some considerable length of time, and the two clinics in Mexico have become 'centres of excellence' in research and treatment for MS patients with HSCT, with a proven 80% success rate.
I need to raise £46,000 which will cover the cost of travelling to Puebla in Mexico, undergoing the 30 day in-patient HSCT treatment at the Clinica Ruiz, and the drugs I will need to bring back with me to ensure on-going infection control.
I REALLY CANNOT HAVE THIS LIFE-CHANGING TREATMENT WITHOUT YOUR HELP!
This is, without exaggeration, the biggest challenge I have ever faced in my life, and I would welcome the chance to get my life back, and run around with my niece and nephew, and do all the normal things that I once took for granted.
All that is left to say is a huge THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for giving me the chance to get my life back. Steve and I are so incredibly grateful to you all.
NB - in the event that i am unable to achieve my fund-raising target and get to Mexico for the treatment, donations will be shared equally between the following charities:
MacMillan Cancer Support, AIMs ( a new MS HSCT Support charity), and Chestnut Tree House (a children's hospice).
For additional information on HSCT at Clinica Luiz in Mexico please visit:
https://www.hsctmexico.com/ms_landing.php?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIromf2ebx3AIVVuh3Ch3ergqiEAAYASAAEgISI_D_BwE
For additional information on MS please visit the MS society page:
https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/what-is-ms
If you would like to email me to ask any additional questions:
[email redacted].uk
Hello I'm Tracy. I'm 52 and work part-time for a local charity. I live in Sussex with my husband Steve and my Border Terrier called Red.
I received the devastating news of the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in December 2014, and it has become very aggressive over the last 12 months, making my life increasingly difficult. I've always been a very active person, walking miles accross the south downs where we live, and have a positive outlook on life, but MS has stopped me from enjoying the things I once took for granted, and the physical and pyschological effects of this are debilitating.
I NEED YOUR HELP TO ACCESS LIFE-CHANGING TREATMENT!
What is MS?
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, progressive neurological auto-immune disease, which affects the central nervous system. My own immune system is attacking my brain and the covering (myelin) around the spinal cord, causing significant disability, and in an indeterminate amount of time will progress to the point that i will need to use a wheelchair and will totally lose my independence.
Day to Day life for Tracy
In the past twelve months my MS has progressed at an alarming rate and become very aggressive. I have virtually lost the use of my right hand and arm (I am right-handed), constantly trip over and lose my balance, and experience severe fatigue and short-term memory loss. As a result i have had to reduce my working hours to part-time, and the everyday tasks that I used to take for granted, (ironing, cooking) feel like a monumental task. I fear it will affect my ability to drive, as I can no longer turn a key. I used to enjoy walking for miles, but now i struggle to walk a short distance before becoming exhausted. I've always been incredibly independent, and having to adjust to my limitations and accept help Is frustrating to say the least.
My husband Steve is an ex Para who fought in the Falklands, and he is alongside me fighting this constant and debilitating battle. He is incredibly supportive, but feels equally frustrated at the many ways MS is impacting our lives and future plans.
Hard Facts
My last MRI showed an increase in lesions on my brain and spinal cord, which prove that my MS is highly aggressive and progressing at an alarming rate. I have recently started on a drug treatment, which is administered by monthly 2 hour infusions at hospital. This drug treatment is an attempt to reduce the number of attacks (relapses) i have, but it carries significant risks, including a potentially fatal brain condition called PML, for which I am monitored closely. Since starting this treatment i have been plagued with side effects (nausea, passing out) and an increase in fatigue, which is incredibly debilitating.
The nature of MS is that a further attack could happen at any time and would result in disabling me further, and if i lose the use of the left hand i will no longer be able to work. Relapses come completely out of the blue, and the next one could potenially result in putting me in a wheelchair. Our finances have already taken a hit through a reduction in my ability to work full-time, and if i can no longer work, i can't save for the life-changing treatment I need.
YOU CAN HELP ME TO ACCESS LIFE-CHANGING TREATMENT!
HSCT treatment has given me real hope of beating MS for good!
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) effectively 're-boots' the immune system, essentially 'restoring the factory settings' and halts any further progress of this awful disease, and STOPS MS IN IT'S TRACKS.
It is a ground-breaking treatment, which uses the patient's own harvested stem cells following a high dose of chemotherapy. This may seem drastic, but HSCT treatment has been proven in clinical trials to STOP DISEASE ACTIVITY in over 80% of patients with active, relapsing and remitting MS, such as myself. Sadly this treatment is not yet available on the NHS, and is unlikely to become available until further clinical trials have taken place, which will be over the next few years. I do not have years to STOP MS.
MS will severely STOP ME over the next few years from doing all of the things i used to enjoy.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
HSCT treatment has been available in Mexico and Russia for some considerable length of time, and the two clinics in Mexico have become 'centres of excellence' in research and treatment for MS patients with HSCT, with a proven 80% success rate.
I need to raise £46,000 which will cover the cost of travelling to Puebla in Mexico, undergoing the 30 day in-patient HSCT treatment at the Clinica Ruiz, and the drugs I will need to bring back with me to ensure on-going infection control.
I REALLY CANNOT HAVE THIS LIFE-CHANGING TREATMENT WITHOUT YOUR HELP!
This is, without exaggeration, the biggest challenge I have ever faced in my life, and I would welcome the chance to get my life back, and run around with my niece and nephew, and do all the normal things that I once took for granted.
All that is left to say is a huge THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for giving me the chance to get my life back. Steve and I are so incredibly grateful to you all.
NB - in the event that i am unable to achieve my fund-raising target and get to Mexico for the treatment, donations will be shared equally between the following charities:
MacMillan Cancer Support, AIMs ( a new MS HSCT Support charity), and Chestnut Tree House (a children's hospice).
For additional information on HSCT at Clinica Luiz in Mexico please visit:
https://www.hsctmexico.com/ms_landing.php?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIromf2ebx3AIVVuh3Ch3ergqiEAAYASAAEgISI_D_BwE
For additional information on MS please visit the MS society page:
https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/what-is-ms
If you would like to email me to ask any additional questions:
[email redacted].uk
Organizer
Tracy Williams
Organizer
England