Melanie's Stem Cell Transplant

I have a dear friend named Melanie Herken who is  battling  Multiple Sclerosis.  MS is a chronic neuromuscular disorder that damages the brain and spinal cord, affecting movement, sensation and bodily functions.  Melanie was diagnosed with MS in 2002 but she did not require treatment until 2009 when she began to have frequent falls.   Her  MS is  becoming more active and debilitating every day and her current medications and rehabilitation are not slowing the progression.



If you don't know Melanie, she has a personality and smile that can light up a room.  She is a friend to everyone she meets and she loves Jesus.  Despite her unfortunate diagnosis, she always remains optimistic and is more concerned about others than herself.  Melanie is a terrific mom to  2 handsome boys, Krys (15) and Kobe (13).  They are the joy of her life and the reason she gets up every morning.   They are both very involved with basketball and school activities and she is always there to cheer them on.    She also has a partner in life, Troy, who is her rock.


The past 5 years have been extremely challenging for Melanie and her family.  There have been frequent hospitalizations, rehabilitation stays, increased medication and progression of her Multiple Sclerosis. Because of a new MS lesion that occured around Christmas time this past year, she is wheelchair bound and needing help with almost all normal daily activities.   Her MS was continuing to progress with no cure in sight, or so she thought......


Melanie has found a pioneering doctor at Northwestern in Chicago that is performing stem cell transplants for MS and having incredible results!   Check out http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/trial-stem-cell-tranplants-yields-positive-results-patients-ms for details.  She  went for an evaluation on 3/17/2015 to see if she qualified for the transplant study and she was accepted to start IMMEDIATELY!   Our prayers have been answered!  She now has an amazing and rare opportunity to truly fight this terrible disease and win!

                           Here Is Where You Can Help
 The 2 month treatment in Chicago is going to be costly.  It is very hard for Melanie to ask for money from family and friends, but she needs our support. If you are able to donate to her stem cell transplant she would be forever grateful.  If you are unable to donate and could pray for her and her  family, she would love and appreciate that too! Melanie is ready to fight and this opportunity gives her a chance to win. Let's give her the love and support she needs. God bless you all.   Sarah Gollier