Medical Fundraiser for Steve Roe

I am asking for help to fund medical treatment for Steve Roe (center in photo)—who is battling a rare auto-immune disease called Anti-Mag. Steve and I have been friends for 47 years. Many of you will know us as fellow Hamiltonians, class of 1978. I became aware of Steve's health condition almost a year ago, and have watched as other treatments haven't worked, the disease progresses, and the simplest daily tasks have become impossible. Now he's approved for cutting edge therapy that's shown extremely promising results for people with auto-immune diseases. It's expensive, insurance won't pay, and it will take months for his body to repair itself before he can work again.

Anti-Mag disease makes his immune system destroy the insulation on his nerves—so that he can’t properly control the muscles in his arms, legs, hands, and feet. Loss of balance, pain and increasing muscle weakness are devastating enough--but  now he can't lift a camera, which makes it impossible to continue his work as an aerial photographer. 

Please consider contributing whatever you can to help Steve get better.

Donations will go to cover medical and medical related expenses.  All funds will go directly to Steve as beneficiary.
Your generosity is deeply appreciated, every single bit helps.

Steve’s journey began in February 2020, when he had ulnar nerve, carpal tunnel and thumb surgery to address pain and weakness that were preventing him from playing guitar or handling a hockey stick. After surgery, his left shoulder was compromised, and— just when the follow-up MRI was scheduled— Co-vid hit. Further investigation into his left arm and shoulder was shut down. Then followed seven long months of pain, balance issues and muscle loss—until January 2021, when multiple blood tests, and consults with both hematology and neurology at Wentworth-Douglass hospital in Dover, NH led to the auto-immune diagnosis.

 

There is no established treatment for Anti-Mag…it’s so rare that very few studies have been done. Since January, Steve has tried IV immunotherapy and an anti-rejection drug, but neither has stopped the progression of the disease. Meanwhile, the pain and muscle loss continue to get worse. He is now unable to lift his arms above his waist and struggles doing ordinary daily activities….let alone playing guitar, lifting a camera, hugging his family or playing hockey. It has been a seriously rough road— and yet, through it all, Steve has managed to keep a positive attitude. He is one of the most outgoing and generous people I know, always looking forward and figuring out how to adapt. He’s helped out countless others— now the time for his turn has come around.

 

Thankfully…Steve is now approved for a promising treatment in Panama City—a procedure that will deliver millions of stem cells by IV infusion over the course of 4 days. This therapy uses cells that are donated with consent and targeted specifically to regenerate damaged tissues. Results have been amazing for people with other auto-immune diseases, and there is good reason to believe it will help Steve, too. It is state-of-the-art medicine, delivered at a well established clinic that has treated many thousands of people. They work in collaboration with university researchers and physicians around the world. The therapy is expensive, it is not offered in this country, and insurance will not cover it. That’s why I’m reaching out. I invite you to join me in offering a ray of hope for Steve. Together we can truly make a difference. Please give whatever you can to help our friend Steve get on the road to healing.

 

With gratitude beyond words… on behalf of Steve Roe,

 

Cathy Lott

All donations go directly to Steve. Please share this GoFundMe link on your social networks! Thank you!

 

For more about Anti-mag, go here:

https://www.gbs-cidp.org/variants/anti-mag/

 

For more about the treatment in Panama go here:

https://www.cellmedicine.com/stem-cell-therapy-for-autoimmune-diseases/