Reboot - Louise's stem cell journey
Donation protected
I was always a sporty person, I was fit and tried everything. I would win races at sports day, represented Shetland at inter county both junior and senior level, I was even Sports President at my University and ran the London Marathon in 2003.
In 2002 I had optic neuritis and in 2007 I woke one morning thinking I had had a stroke in the night as my left side was numb. Many tests, a lumber puncture and hospital appointments later I was diagnosed with MS in January 2008.
To be honest at 26 and still very fit and active, it didn't really register and I don't really think it sunk in, I just carried on with life...it was just a label I had.
Fast forward a few years, my daughter was born and I am starting to notice, I can't walk as far as I would like and I am no longer the netball player I once was and give up. I also start being more open about the label I have and the fact I have an illness.
A few years after this someone I knew from Shetland was going to Mexico for HSCT treatment for her MS and this remained at the back of my mind, this may be an option I need to look at. I have since been in contact to find out more about her journey.
Where I am today, life is good but I have to think before agreeing to do things, can I manage, my walking limit is about 20 mins. My husband and sister are keen runners and thank god they are, they are the good examples for fitness that I need our daughter to have, that I would love to be.
So this comes to my decision, I am going to Mexico in January 2022 (date still to be finalised) to get stem cell treatment at Clinica Ruiz https://hsctmexico.com/ to try to halt my MS and ensure I don't end up in a wheelchair or unable to walk. This treatment obviously won't be cheap, $54k, so that is where I am asking to see if friends and family can help, my generous parents are making up the rest. There will be fundraising efforts throughout the year and if you could manage to spare anything to make my dream come true I would be forever grateful.
Thanks Louise x
In 2002 I had optic neuritis and in 2007 I woke one morning thinking I had had a stroke in the night as my left side was numb. Many tests, a lumber puncture and hospital appointments later I was diagnosed with MS in January 2008.
To be honest at 26 and still very fit and active, it didn't really register and I don't really think it sunk in, I just carried on with life...it was just a label I had.
Fast forward a few years, my daughter was born and I am starting to notice, I can't walk as far as I would like and I am no longer the netball player I once was and give up. I also start being more open about the label I have and the fact I have an illness.
A few years after this someone I knew from Shetland was going to Mexico for HSCT treatment for her MS and this remained at the back of my mind, this may be an option I need to look at. I have since been in contact to find out more about her journey.
Where I am today, life is good but I have to think before agreeing to do things, can I manage, my walking limit is about 20 mins. My husband and sister are keen runners and thank god they are, they are the good examples for fitness that I need our daughter to have, that I would love to be.
So this comes to my decision, I am going to Mexico in January 2022 (date still to be finalised) to get stem cell treatment at Clinica Ruiz https://hsctmexico.com/ to try to halt my MS and ensure I don't end up in a wheelchair or unable to walk. This treatment obviously won't be cheap, $54k, so that is where I am asking to see if friends and family can help, my generous parents are making up the rest. There will be fundraising efforts throughout the year and if you could manage to spare anything to make my dream come true I would be forever grateful.
Thanks Louise x
Fundraising team (6)
Louise Herbert
Organizer
Donna Polson
Team member
Leigh Nicolson - RGU WFC
Team member
Paul Herbert
Team member
Rhoda Watt
Team member