Hi, my name is Barbara. I am a 52-year-old Wife, Mother of 3 beautiful children and newly appointed Grandma to my first grand-baby.

 In 2012, after years of trying to get a diagnosis as to why I was having so many health issues, I finally got one. Unfortunately, it was a lifelong diagnosis of Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS) for which there is no cure.  At that time I was told that I had  MS for approximately 10-15 years prior based upon my MRIs.

Primary Progressive MS is one of the most aggressive and debilitating forms of MS as it is characterized as a progressive worsening of symptoms from the onset of the disease due to nerve damage. Unlike other forms of MS, Primary Progressive MS does not offer periods of remission and often has a greater number of lesions on both the brain and the spinal cord. Also unlike other forms of MS, the damage caused by PPMS tends to more often be a result of nerve damage rather than inflammation.  In MS and other autoimmune diseases, the body attacks itself, so I am essentially in a fight against my own body. 

I am no longer effectively responding to my DMT (disease-modifying treatment), Ocrevus,  which is the only drug currently available for PPMS.

All of my symptoms, which include extreme chronic fatigue, chronic pain, tremors, difficulties swallowing, cognitive issues (which include memory loss, confusion and difficulty formulating the correct words when speaking), urinary and bowel issues, issues with walking and balance, falls, muscle spasticity and pain, bone pain, numbness and tingling throughout the body, optic neuritis (vision loss), muscle weakness and others; have significantly worsened over the last 2 years, so we began researching HSCT Treatment.

Due to nerve damage and other comorbidities, I am suffering from Degenerative Spine Disease as well There are bones throughout my spine, most notably in my cervical spine, that are severely compressing and even flattening my spinal cord. I also have lesions in the same areas. The neurosurgeons feel that because of those lesions and my progressing MS that addressing those issues is too dangerous. Sadly, they will continue to progress (hopefully slowly!) leading to continued loss of mobility.

HSCT (hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) is an intense chemotherapy for MS. It is intended to help slow or even stop the progression of my MS. It aims to stop the damage MS is causing by wiping out and then regrowing your immune system cells. It can slow or halt MS progression for approximately 5 years! Unfortunately, HSCT is unavailable in the US, with the exception of a very few clinical trials that most patients, myself included, are not eligible for. 

After careful research, we've decided to head to Clinica Ruiz in Mexico.  I was given a date of arrival of 7/30/2023 and I will remain for the month of August, 2023. I am nervous, but extremely grateful for this opportunity!

I have been experiencing a more rapid decline and although eligible now, I am very close to no longer being eligible for the HSCT based on the EDSS scores (disability scores).

Our trip to Mexico for HSCT Treatment is my best and only option to try to beat this monster and slow the progression of the PPMS to provide me an opportunity to have a more healthy and productive time with my family who are the reasons I fight so hard as nothing is more important to me than my husband, children and now my granddaughter.  

Insurance does not cover HSCT treatment nor does it assist in any outside medical costs associated with HSCT treatment. The cost of HSCT at Clinica Ruiz is $54,500. We are attempting to raise $60,000 to cover the treatment and those outside medical costs which include a year of maintenance treatment upon arriving home.  

We can't do this alone. We humbly ask that you could find it in your heart to help us try to slow down the progression of my disease with your kindness and any donation that you can provide. We ask that you share this with anyone that you can.

WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING IN OUR FIGHT!!

"Where there is HOPE there is FAITH, where there is Faith, MIRACLES happen"

 https://youtu.be/wJHpMZ3c1Fc 

You Tube Video Explaining Clinica Ruiz

 https://www.hsctmexicoprogram.com/b6916431f5cb6fe8f7d49ee09ee0ba5f/9f580b8e1f011818a1c0dfb8735a37/archivos/HSCT_Brochure.pdf 

Link to HSCT Brochure explaining Procedure and cost 

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