Please Help Disabled Vet with Stem Cell Therapy Journey

Hello everyone! My name is Melissa (aka Mel) and I'm a disabled veteran who honorably served in the US Air Force (2003-2007) and US Army (2009-2012). I'm respectfully requesting help from my community to raise funds for stem cell therapy to seek quality of life improvement. Within the last few years, I was diagnosed with other limb girdle muscular dystrophy (necrotizing myopathy) after several tests, a muscle biopsy and extensive genetic testing to seek answers through the Department of Veteran's Affairs. Both genetic testing and genetic counseling have not concluded the cause for my condition & the VA has been very quick to say that my condition was caused by genetics. However, there's no concrete genetic explanation to support their claim and I thoroughly believe that improperly treated injuries while in service became the catalyst for my slow muscular deterioration (grade II muscle tear, intramuscular edema from untreated muscle tear, lower back and cervical spinal stenosis/radiculopathy causing impingement on my spinal nerves).

I suffer from other service connected debilitating conditions (migraines, chronic fatigue, PTSD, tinnitus, knee pain, difficulty swallowing, etc.), but the muscular dystrophy affects me significantly. Prior to joining the Army in January 2009, I was a healthy 24 year old who was able to do normal activities that most take for granted (run, walk normally, dance, bend, lift objects). Now at 39, I can't lift 2 lbs. past my chest, can't bend, can't run, can barely walk without assistance (orthotics, a cane and a mobility scooter for longer distances). I have occasional choking episodes when swallowing my own saliva & I have to manually lift my legs up with my hands just to get in and out of bed each day, etc. I watch people walking normally every day and I keep telling myself "One day I will be able to do that again and not feel my muscles give out. One day I'll be able to tell my daughter that mommy can do things with her that don't require me to sit. One day....".

My daughter Brooklyn is my main reason for living & I'll be damned (pardon my french) if I fail to be the best mother that I can be for her. I know that I cannot cure what I have, but I can at least try and improve my quality of life. Some of you may already know that stem cell therapies are not only a very controversial topic in the US, but stem cell therapies aren't FDA approved yet and not covered by insurance. Patients have to travel to countries like Mexico and Colombia to undergo treatment for 7-10 days at best. Even with this in mind, I'm seeing these patients' stories and their conditions that are similar to mine and remain optimistic about this approach. As I understand this, like any other treatment, is a risk to take but if we don't take a risk and see what prospects are on the other side of the tunnel - how are we supposed to grow, improve and learn? Everything in life is a risk and I believe in living the best life that you can if you can live it. I want to live & I don't want to end up in a wheelchair because if I get to that point, there is no quality of life for me. This is my attempt to meet this goal for my 40th birthday (Feb 12th) and anything that you can donate would be BEYOND appreciated. This gift would change my and my daughter's lives immensely. Thank you, thank you, thank you for listening and doing what you can and if you aren't able to donate, please pass this to someone who might or would just like to learn more about the benefits that stem cells hold.

Watch this documentary as well if you'd like: