HSCT TREATMENT

As many of you know, I have been severely ill for a while…three years to be exact. After hundreds of hospital visits, the doctors finally reached a consensus and have diagnosed me with scleroderma. Scleroderma is a rare disease that involves the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues—the fibers that provide the framework and support of my body. It is also harming structures beyond my skin—my blood vessels, internal organs, and digestive tract. It makes it very difficult for me to do simple tasks such as eating, showering, turning in my bed while I’m sleeping, sitting and being able to get up once I am sitting…things all of us take or granted on a daily basis. My skin has tightened and hardened so much that sometimes I am unable to open my mouth wide enough to eat regularly, I can’t make a fist, I’m unable to bend my arms at the elbows and I can’t kneel.
Luckily, I have been informed of a clinical trial treatment that has helped a few others with the same disease as I. Although not a cure, because scleroderma is a chronic disease, the clinical trial will help in controlling the symptoms i.e. softening the skin and preventing damage to my organs. The treatment uses chemotherapy to completely destroy my immune system so that my body can rebuild another one. The procedure is extremely costly. The clinical trial is taking place in Chicago, will last approximately 2-3 months, with recovery being another 6 months and does not include travel or accommodation.
Due to scleroderma, I have been unable to keep a job for a while now and I need help with expenses for the treatment, travel (by car since chances of being infected via flying are extremely high), and accommodation. I am not asking everyone to donate a lot of money, but please know that every little bit helps. Anything that you can give will be extremely appreciated. Please help me get treated, so I can get my life back. Thanks in advance! God bless!