Stem Cell Therapy MS
Donation protected
Hello my name is Matt. I am 43 years old and living with MS for 13 year now, diagnosed just before my 30th birthday.
Here's my story:
While driving at work one sunny Saturday afternoon, something wasn't quite right. I started to lose vision in my right eye, loss of peripheral view, seeing stars/white dots, and feeling clouded. I pulled my car over and closed my eyes for a while thinking it will pass. After 20 minutes or so, nothing had changed so I decided to go home. My right eye was closed most of the way. I went inside, headed straight for the couch, and fell asleep for several hours. I woke up feeling much better, except my right eye still a bit off but not that bad. I was thinking maybe some kind of seasonal allergies, not enough of sleep the night before or didn't eat a good lunch. Being positive I thought I would be fine by Monday. I didn't think much more about it until Monday morning while getting ready for work and all the symptoms mentioned earlier came back but much worse.
I called in sick to work and went to see my family doctor. Got a full checkup and doctor couldn’t find anything wrong. The doctor suggested I see an eye doctor. The eye doctor also didn’t find anything wrong. At that time, I was referred to a neurologist. That is when I started to worry what might be wrong.
The neurologist asked a lot of questions and ordered me to go to the Hospital for several tests. After days at the hospital, blood work, MRI's, spinal test, etc... I went back to my neurologist for results and diagnosis. This is when I found out about MS. I didn't even know what MS was or how serious it is. I immediately began educating myself about it and learning all I could. It is a life changing illness that affect each person with it differently and no known cure is available. Current medications will only slow down the progress but not cure it. I was sent back to the Hospital for a IV Steroid treatment. After several weeks, MS fell asleep/dormant and I felt back to normal like nothing happened. Back to work and life resumed as it was….
After a month or so I signed up for a clinical study at University of Chicago, testing a new drug at that time, called Betaseron. Going to the Hospital once a month for medication refills and different kinds of tests. The study lasted for about 2 years. After the study, feeling great and no active symptoms what's so ever, I decided to get a second and third opinion in case I was misdiagnosed. Both second and third opinions were the same. I had no choice but to accept that I did in fact have MS.
A few years went by and no sign of MS. This MS is not as bad as everyone is making it out to be, or so I thought. I continued with life as everyone else did. About 5 years ago, my MS woke up, sucker punched me and put me in a Hospital for several days. Once again, I was on IV Steroid treatment and several tests. After that episode, I started to notice my body wasn't the same. Walking difficulty, balance, vision problems, spasticity, numbness, tingling and fatigue were the first noticeable issues. I have tried physical therapy, different diets, supplements, medication, and everything in-between. I have tried about every different type of MS medication also and nothing has stopped my progression. Avonex, Tysabri, Tecfidera, Aubagio and Ampyra. Nothing has slowed my progression down. Significant depression, mood swings, irritability, weakness, bladder problems, insomnia, speech problems are some other issues I’ve noticed the last few years.
These things have not only affected my everyday life, but those around me as well. It is increasingly difficult for me to watch my children, ages 14, 12 and 11, at their activities and I know I am missing out on some of the best memories they are making. As hard as I try, I am just not able to participate. I am not able to walk across a parking lot, or a football field, or walk up a set of bleachers. I try and plan to make an outing, then the day of, find myself so exhausted, for no reason, that I can barely get out of bed. I have learned to not make promises of any kind to my family. I don’t like that at all. Things that I used to do without thinking twice are getting increasingly difficult. Walking in a straight line or just walking more than few feet or without any assistance, cane, walker, holding on to a wall or person. Using the stairs or even standing for a few minutes, are very difficult tasks. Every day things like writing or holding a pen can be almost impossible.
Thankfully at this point I have a desk job and I am still able to bring in an income. However, I am always concerned how much longer I will be able to do that. I used to be known to help anyone and everyone around me. I would give a stranger the shirt off my back. I am not one who likes to ask for help of any kind, now I am dependent on my wife and close family, friends to do what I used to do with no problems.
I am a fighter and want to continue and try more aggressive procedures. I decided to research and consider Stem Cell Procedure. The Stem Cell procedures can be risky, and medical insurance will not cover it. That being said, I still need to give it a try. Living this way is not acceptable to me and I will try anything to gain some normalcy back in my life. This Stem Cell Procedure has many success stories, over 80% positive rate. Many people having most of their functions back and start living a healthy active life, maybe not same as before MS but something is better than nothing. As each body reacts differently, 2 or 3 procedure may be necessary to achieve that goal. This procedure I am signed up for is in San Diego, CA. The cost is $18,000 per treatment, plus airfare, plus time off of work. I am so hoping I have the opportunity for this treatment. Please help me on my journey to obtain this goal. I am ready to start living a full life again.
Thank you in advance for your support and donation.
God Bless
-Matt
Here's my story:
While driving at work one sunny Saturday afternoon, something wasn't quite right. I started to lose vision in my right eye, loss of peripheral view, seeing stars/white dots, and feeling clouded. I pulled my car over and closed my eyes for a while thinking it will pass. After 20 minutes or so, nothing had changed so I decided to go home. My right eye was closed most of the way. I went inside, headed straight for the couch, and fell asleep for several hours. I woke up feeling much better, except my right eye still a bit off but not that bad. I was thinking maybe some kind of seasonal allergies, not enough of sleep the night before or didn't eat a good lunch. Being positive I thought I would be fine by Monday. I didn't think much more about it until Monday morning while getting ready for work and all the symptoms mentioned earlier came back but much worse.
I called in sick to work and went to see my family doctor. Got a full checkup and doctor couldn’t find anything wrong. The doctor suggested I see an eye doctor. The eye doctor also didn’t find anything wrong. At that time, I was referred to a neurologist. That is when I started to worry what might be wrong.
The neurologist asked a lot of questions and ordered me to go to the Hospital for several tests. After days at the hospital, blood work, MRI's, spinal test, etc... I went back to my neurologist for results and diagnosis. This is when I found out about MS. I didn't even know what MS was or how serious it is. I immediately began educating myself about it and learning all I could. It is a life changing illness that affect each person with it differently and no known cure is available. Current medications will only slow down the progress but not cure it. I was sent back to the Hospital for a IV Steroid treatment. After several weeks, MS fell asleep/dormant and I felt back to normal like nothing happened. Back to work and life resumed as it was….
After a month or so I signed up for a clinical study at University of Chicago, testing a new drug at that time, called Betaseron. Going to the Hospital once a month for medication refills and different kinds of tests. The study lasted for about 2 years. After the study, feeling great and no active symptoms what's so ever, I decided to get a second and third opinion in case I was misdiagnosed. Both second and third opinions were the same. I had no choice but to accept that I did in fact have MS.
A few years went by and no sign of MS. This MS is not as bad as everyone is making it out to be, or so I thought. I continued with life as everyone else did. About 5 years ago, my MS woke up, sucker punched me and put me in a Hospital for several days. Once again, I was on IV Steroid treatment and several tests. After that episode, I started to notice my body wasn't the same. Walking difficulty, balance, vision problems, spasticity, numbness, tingling and fatigue were the first noticeable issues. I have tried physical therapy, different diets, supplements, medication, and everything in-between. I have tried about every different type of MS medication also and nothing has stopped my progression. Avonex, Tysabri, Tecfidera, Aubagio and Ampyra. Nothing has slowed my progression down. Significant depression, mood swings, irritability, weakness, bladder problems, insomnia, speech problems are some other issues I’ve noticed the last few years.
These things have not only affected my everyday life, but those around me as well. It is increasingly difficult for me to watch my children, ages 14, 12 and 11, at their activities and I know I am missing out on some of the best memories they are making. As hard as I try, I am just not able to participate. I am not able to walk across a parking lot, or a football field, or walk up a set of bleachers. I try and plan to make an outing, then the day of, find myself so exhausted, for no reason, that I can barely get out of bed. I have learned to not make promises of any kind to my family. I don’t like that at all. Things that I used to do without thinking twice are getting increasingly difficult. Walking in a straight line or just walking more than few feet or without any assistance, cane, walker, holding on to a wall or person. Using the stairs or even standing for a few minutes, are very difficult tasks. Every day things like writing or holding a pen can be almost impossible.
Thankfully at this point I have a desk job and I am still able to bring in an income. However, I am always concerned how much longer I will be able to do that. I used to be known to help anyone and everyone around me. I would give a stranger the shirt off my back. I am not one who likes to ask for help of any kind, now I am dependent on my wife and close family, friends to do what I used to do with no problems.
I am a fighter and want to continue and try more aggressive procedures. I decided to research and consider Stem Cell Procedure. The Stem Cell procedures can be risky, and medical insurance will not cover it. That being said, I still need to give it a try. Living this way is not acceptable to me and I will try anything to gain some normalcy back in my life. This Stem Cell Procedure has many success stories, over 80% positive rate. Many people having most of their functions back and start living a healthy active life, maybe not same as before MS but something is better than nothing. As each body reacts differently, 2 or 3 procedure may be necessary to achieve that goal. This procedure I am signed up for is in San Diego, CA. The cost is $18,000 per treatment, plus airfare, plus time off of work. I am so hoping I have the opportunity for this treatment. Please help me on my journey to obtain this goal. I am ready to start living a full life again.
Thank you in advance for your support and donation.
God Bless
-Matt
Organizer
Matt Wlodek
Organizer
Poplar Grove, IL