Helping Lester Stand:A Soldier's Battle Against MS

40 days many not seem like a huge amount of time, for my husband and I, it’s been 40 days of hospitals and meds and rehab and relapses. But it’s also been 40 days since we’ve last hugged and held our children and tucked them into bed. Lester was active duty in 2012 when an MRI showed a spinal lesion. Extensive testing and a spinal tap later confirmed MS. From there on it was a game of Russian roulette of meds that did more to harm to his brain and left us considering end of life care in a nursing home for a man barely in his mid 20’s. That was until we found and fought for a clinical study group offering self harvested stem cells. He went from knocking on deaths door to walking tall out of the hospital within a matter of months. It gave us five and a half beautiful symptom free years. Upon his last study group check-up it revealed one active lesion on his spine. Now the beginning of 2019 his MS is attacking him worse than before. Three short days into a flare up and Lester found himself depending on a wheel chair fighting until things calmed down enough that he could learn to re-walk. At the advice of someone on my husbands medical team and after an initial denial and 2 failed appeals we are now turning to everyone that this reaches to. Please help my husband have the ability to get back the use of his legs again. Please donate and share if you can, even if it’s just your daily coffee, because if enough people come together you can certainly do big amazing things. For us you’ll be gifting us the most amazing gift of all. You would be giving us our family’s anchor back, a father back to kids, a husband back to me and a hard worker willing to bust his back in the name of helping others. If anyone would like to contact me Brittany, for any questions please email: [email redacted]. Thank you. My family and I will never be able to express the gratitude we have for the support system we have found that is so willing to fight for this opportunity for us. The opportunity just to have another chance at normal. I will never be able to pay back the kindness and blessings that we’ve been surrounded by. -Brittany Sanderson A son, a brother, a husband, a father, and a soldier. My Brother-In-Law Lester is all of these things and so much more. At 28 years young, having served in Kuwait and fought for our country, he now fights a battle for his life. Once cured of MS by Autologous Stem Cell Treatment, he now sits in a wheelchair with the other 2% of those who have a recurrence after treatment. Lester is an amazing husband to his wife, Brittany, and father to Matthew, Annabelle, and John. He works hard to provide for his family. Well, he did until the familiar but terrifying tingle came back. When it began, 6 years ago, his scan showed 5 lesions on his brain and 3 on his spine. Three months later, this rapidly progressing form of MS had given him over 100 lesions on the brain and 7 on his spine. All of which was completely eradicated with the Autologous Stem Cell Transplant. Just days before his oldest son’s 10th birthday and less than a month before he turns 29, he began experiencing that familiar and terrifying tingle. This time, in less than one month, he has developed 17 lesions on his brain (not counting the ones on his spine) and is rapidly declining. He is currently in Chicago at the hospital awaiting treatment. His healthy stem cells were harvested 6 years ago, during a clinical trial. Some were frozen and reserved for later re-treatment if they were to be needed, which is now the case. The hospital can use those healthy cells to repeat the treatment, however the upfront cost for treatment is $125,000 to complete the procedure. No payment plans are accepted by the hospital and because the treatment for this form of MS is not yet FDA Approved, his Tri-Care Insurance denied his claim. His doctor In Chicago appealed the denial already, which was also denied. We will continue to appeal for as long as it takes and as many times necessary because our family will never give up on each other however, due to the disease’s rapid progression, even waiting one more day for treatment puts Lester at a greater risk of lasting damage and/or the possibility of losing his life. Please help us help this fine young man, son, brother, husband, father, and soldier. Time is of the essence as his condition is rapidly declining!