Please Help my Brother Bob Cope with his MS

After experiencing symptoms Bob underwent a series of MRI’s for his upper and lower back in 2021. That August, at 59 years of age, Bob's neurologist informed him that he had Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS), a rare and chronic, progressive form of MS. There is no cure for PPMS and unlike other forms of MS there are no relapses. Bob's prognosis was a steady, progressive worsening of his disability which has proven to be the case.

Bob has indeed lost the majority his mobility and finds it difficult to perform the simplest of tasks. Bob has always been a dog lover and has gone from having 3 dogs to not being able to care for one. Preparing a meal is no easy feat. Showering, shaving and dressing all require a herculean effort. He uses an electric cart when grocery shopping and will soon require an electric wheel chair. Although Bob is no longer able to work or participate in the activities he once loved, he has found purpose, connection and community by volunteering as a peer counsellor with the Canadian MS Society. We continue to be amazed at his positivity and desire for strengthening his own resolve and connections with others.

Over the past 3 years, Bob has been living alone which honestly, I can’t imagine. We feel he has come to terms with his diagnosis with grace. Through many conversations, we have learned that Bob is discovering ways to deal with the daily challenges of his unique disability. He has become an avid reader and spends much of his time nowadays studying psychology or more specifically the works of Eckhart Tolle. Bob chooses to focus his mind on the present moment, as it helps him cope with his disease and resulting disability.

Bob’s disability comes with a huge financial cost going forward. PPMS is a chronic progressive illness with no cure. The only known drug to slow down the progression on Bob’s illness is called Ocrevus. Bob currently receives semi- annual Ocrevus infusions at a local clinic. These infusions come at an annual cost of $30,000. Bob had resisted the idea of creating a Go Fund Me fundraiser in the past, but he is now open to sharing his journey and the possibility of receiving support. Any initial donation will be used to help cover Ocrevus infusions, short term financial needs including basic living expenses, meal prep and homecare. Bob will also require an electric wheelchair for mobility and quality of life, wheelchair assessible transportation and appropriate accessible housing. Any donations exceeding his preliminary needs will be used to continue to create a life with dignity.

We realize that there are many people experiencing difficult times and that you may have other causes that are of personal importance requiring your assistance, so we would like to thank you for your consideration, kindness and compassion. As Bob mentions in his video, he would love to hear from any of you as he continues on his journey. If you feel comfortable, we hope that you may be able to share this link with others.

With Much Love,

Sandy, Andy, Gibson, Jules and Jenny xoxo