Team Terri’s MS Fight Fund!
Meet our Mom, Terri
Many who know Teresa (Terri) Richard know her as a sweet, smart and sassy lady. To us she is simply Mom or Mumma. Unfortunately, most people who know Mom have also always known her as having Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Mom has battled this horrible disease since 1990, more than half her life. As she would say, “the disease is part of who I am, it does not define who I am”. Mom has done everything right. While she has always eaten healthy, she is now vegan, eating a plant-based diet. Mum also exercises regularly, using her rowing machine at home, free weights and until recently, going to the Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) clinic (before COVID-19 hit!). That said, MS takes no prisoners. It is patient and unrelenting. Mom has gone from running, to using a cane, to using a walker. She also uses an electric scooter (her “scoot”) to get outside in the summer and enjoy the sunshine, one of her favourite things to do!
For decades Mom has battled to slow the progression and retain her independence, mobility and dignity. Like most suffering from MS, Mom went from having “flare-ups” or exacerbations that would eventually subside and allow her to get back to normal to the secondary progressive form of MS or “SPMS”. SPMS is slow, but symptoms steadily worsen over time. Due to an initial misdiagnosis, Mom wasn’t offered medications used to treat MS. After receiving the correct diagnosis, Mom began looking into treatment options but was repeatedly told by her Neurologist that she was either doing too well to participate in MS trials or that potential side effects could be detrimental to her overall health. The age cut off for these trials is 60, so despite worsening symptoms, at the age of 62 Mom has passed the age of inclusion for most MS trials.
In July 2016, our little brother Kevin, Mom’s youngest child, died tragically and suddenly. To say this damaged her (and us) is a huge understatement. When something like this happens, it is like someone lobbed a grenade into the midst of your family. You are left to pick up the pieces and move on as best you can, IF you can. Exacerbations or deterioration in MS tend to coincide with stress, both physical and mental. Kevin’s death had a serious and profound effect on Mom. The shock and heartache were devastating and there has been a steady decline in her condition since then.
Now, even though she has battled so fiercely and done everything she can, the MS is winning. There are few options left. There is no cure and little time to act. For someone who’s next step is a wheelchair and who can’t access current MS trials, there is only one option available: HSCT.
What the heck is HSCT?
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) harvests a person’s own stem cells. In this procedure from peripheral blood by a process called apheresis. The blood is passed through a machine that removes the white blood cells. Red cells are returned. The stem cell production is then increased with daily injections of a stimulating factor which serves to mobilize stem cells from the bone marrow into the peripheral circulation. The recipient's immune system is then wiped with chemotherapy. Stem cells are then reintroduced to reset the immune response, stopping the patient’s immune system from attacking itself. It has been an extremely successful form of treatment for patients with certain cancers. While HSCT’s use has expanded beyond cancer to autoimmune diseases, the procedure is not approved in Canada and its use as a treatment for MS is still being studied.
Since HSCT isn’t approved for MS treatment in Canada, we must travel abroad to places like the US, Mexico or Russia. We have done a lot of homework to ensure that the treatment centres Mom can travel to are recommended by a large community of MS sufferers and supporters. Many former HSCT patients afflicted with MS have reported amazing results, such as increased mobility…in some cases walking again after being confined to a wheelchair. In most cases, even if mobility doesn’t improve, the disease is stopped from progressing. While we’re hoping for an improvement in symptoms, stopping the progression is our immediate goal. This would allow Mom to retain the mobility she currently has and her independence.
Why now?
You might be wondering, “why are you trying to raise awareness and funding now, during a global pandemic and corresponding collapse in the economy?” Because we’ve run out of time! There’s simply no time left to wait for a cure or wait for Health Canada to approve HSCT for use as a treatment for MS or other autoimmune diseases. Mom’s Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is a 6.5. Any higher and not only will she be in a wheelchair, she may not be accepted for HSCT treatment. Waiting for a COVID-19 vaccine or a cure for MS, isn’t an option.
Mom has been accepted to clinics in both Mexico and Russia. Obviously traveling abroad for treatment is costly, and not even possible right now! We are raising awareness and funding because time waits for no man or woman. When things do open up and conditions on the ground in these countries get better, we need to be able to act quickly.
How can you help?
Absent a cure, which we don’t have time to wait for, this is Mom’s last chance to keep the use of her legs and her mobility. Treatment is costly. We are looking at $54,500 (US) for the treatment and that doesn’t include travel costs. We need your help! While all three of us (kids) are busy, working professionals we simply don’t have that kind of cash lying around. Mom is willing to use some of her own savings and we’re definitely doing our part and contributing as much as we can. In order to reach our goal, we’re humbly asking you to join “Team Terri”. Join us in the fight for our Mom, the fight of her life!
Our promise to you is that all proceeds will go towards Mom’s HSCT treatment or travel costs. If for some reason she is unable to travel (COVID-19 2nd wave, etc), we will direct anything raised to ensuring she gets whatever care she needs here in Canada, anything to make life a little easier. Make no mistake, the goal is to get HSCT treatment as soon as possible! We will also commit to updating this page to let everyone know what’s going on.
Any support is appreciated!
1) Share this GoFundMe on Social Media with the hashtag #TeamTerriFightsMS
2) Donate as much or as little as you like, we know times are tough!
3) Email this GoFundMe link to people that are not on social media.
With determination and grateful hearts: Mikey, Nikki and Mando.
Meet our Mom, Terri
Many who know Teresa (Terri) Richard know her as a sweet, smart and sassy lady. To us she is simply Mom or Mumma. Unfortunately, most people who know Mom have also always known her as having Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Mom has battled this horrible disease since 1990, more than half her life. As she would say, “the disease is part of who I am, it does not define who I am”. Mom has done everything right. While she has always eaten healthy, she is now vegan, eating a plant-based diet. Mum also exercises regularly, using her rowing machine at home, free weights and until recently, going to the Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) clinic (before COVID-19 hit!). That said, MS takes no prisoners. It is patient and unrelenting. Mom has gone from running, to using a cane, to using a walker. She also uses an electric scooter (her “scoot”) to get outside in the summer and enjoy the sunshine, one of her favourite things to do!
For decades Mom has battled to slow the progression and retain her independence, mobility and dignity. Like most suffering from MS, Mom went from having “flare-ups” or exacerbations that would eventually subside and allow her to get back to normal to the secondary progressive form of MS or “SPMS”. SPMS is slow, but symptoms steadily worsen over time. Due to an initial misdiagnosis, Mom wasn’t offered medications used to treat MS. After receiving the correct diagnosis, Mom began looking into treatment options but was repeatedly told by her Neurologist that she was either doing too well to participate in MS trials or that potential side effects could be detrimental to her overall health. The age cut off for these trials is 60, so despite worsening symptoms, at the age of 62 Mom has passed the age of inclusion for most MS trials.
In July 2016, our little brother Kevin, Mom’s youngest child, died tragically and suddenly. To say this damaged her (and us) is a huge understatement. When something like this happens, it is like someone lobbed a grenade into the midst of your family. You are left to pick up the pieces and move on as best you can, IF you can. Exacerbations or deterioration in MS tend to coincide with stress, both physical and mental. Kevin’s death had a serious and profound effect on Mom. The shock and heartache were devastating and there has been a steady decline in her condition since then.
Now, even though she has battled so fiercely and done everything she can, the MS is winning. There are few options left. There is no cure and little time to act. For someone who’s next step is a wheelchair and who can’t access current MS trials, there is only one option available: HSCT.
What the heck is HSCT?
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) harvests a person’s own stem cells. In this procedure from peripheral blood by a process called apheresis. The blood is passed through a machine that removes the white blood cells. Red cells are returned. The stem cell production is then increased with daily injections of a stimulating factor which serves to mobilize stem cells from the bone marrow into the peripheral circulation. The recipient's immune system is then wiped with chemotherapy. Stem cells are then reintroduced to reset the immune response, stopping the patient’s immune system from attacking itself. It has been an extremely successful form of treatment for patients with certain cancers. While HSCT’s use has expanded beyond cancer to autoimmune diseases, the procedure is not approved in Canada and its use as a treatment for MS is still being studied.
Since HSCT isn’t approved for MS treatment in Canada, we must travel abroad to places like the US, Mexico or Russia. We have done a lot of homework to ensure that the treatment centres Mom can travel to are recommended by a large community of MS sufferers and supporters. Many former HSCT patients afflicted with MS have reported amazing results, such as increased mobility…in some cases walking again after being confined to a wheelchair. In most cases, even if mobility doesn’t improve, the disease is stopped from progressing. While we’re hoping for an improvement in symptoms, stopping the progression is our immediate goal. This would allow Mom to retain the mobility she currently has and her independence.
Why now?
You might be wondering, “why are you trying to raise awareness and funding now, during a global pandemic and corresponding collapse in the economy?” Because we’ve run out of time! There’s simply no time left to wait for a cure or wait for Health Canada to approve HSCT for use as a treatment for MS or other autoimmune diseases. Mom’s Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is a 6.5. Any higher and not only will she be in a wheelchair, she may not be accepted for HSCT treatment. Waiting for a COVID-19 vaccine or a cure for MS, isn’t an option.
Mom has been accepted to clinics in both Mexico and Russia. Obviously traveling abroad for treatment is costly, and not even possible right now! We are raising awareness and funding because time waits for no man or woman. When things do open up and conditions on the ground in these countries get better, we need to be able to act quickly.
How can you help?
Absent a cure, which we don’t have time to wait for, this is Mom’s last chance to keep the use of her legs and her mobility. Treatment is costly. We are looking at $54,500 (US) for the treatment and that doesn’t include travel costs. We need your help! While all three of us (kids) are busy, working professionals we simply don’t have that kind of cash lying around. Mom is willing to use some of her own savings and we’re definitely doing our part and contributing as much as we can. In order to reach our goal, we’re humbly asking you to join “Team Terri”. Join us in the fight for our Mom, the fight of her life!
Our promise to you is that all proceeds will go towards Mom’s HSCT treatment or travel costs. If for some reason she is unable to travel (COVID-19 2nd wave, etc), we will direct anything raised to ensuring she gets whatever care she needs here in Canada, anything to make life a little easier. Make no mistake, the goal is to get HSCT treatment as soon as possible! We will also commit to updating this page to let everyone know what’s going on.
Any support is appreciated!
1) Share this GoFundMe on Social Media with the hashtag #TeamTerriFightsMS
2) Donate as much or as little as you like, we know times are tough!
3) Email this GoFundMe link to people that are not on social media.
With determination and grateful hearts: Mikey, Nikki and Mando.
Fundraising team: Mikey, Nikki and Mando3
Terri Richard
Beneficiary
Amanda Thorson
Team member
Nicole Richard
Team member