Lifeline for Deborah

Deborah's Story

I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS in 2012 at the age of 45.
Initially they thought I had a stroke due to the brain activity, but after 7 days in hospital receiving MRI scans and a lumbar puncture of my spinal fluid - I was then given the life changing news that I had Multiple Sclerosis . I was in so much shock that I didn't know how to deal with it.

I have been put on numerous disease modifying drugs, including various injections and oral tablets, but with the side effects I had no quality of life.
I was then put on an infusion tysabri which worked well, but I was tested for a potentially fatal brain infection called PML and unfortunately I carry the gene, so I had to be taken off it.

My last chance is HSCT (Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant) , which is having my stem cells removed and returning them after a course of chemotherapy to reboot my immune system and give me a fighting chance from this disease progressing any further.

Out of desperation, I researched my options and soon found out that Russia is the most effective for this treatment, at a hefty sum of approximately £55.000.
Unfortunately this treatment is aggressive and not without risks but there is nothing else out there that could help.I only hope this treatment will halt the debilitating symptoms that have affected me so badly over the past years and return some quality of life, not just for me but for my children and my partner. However, I would be required to travel to Russia for 1 week of testing to see if I'm suitable candidate.

My MS has developed into a secondary progressive stage. The next stage of MS will mean that I am completely out of hope, I won’t be able to do anything if it reaches that point and I am extremely scared of that outcome.

Over the past year, I have dramatically declined. 2017 will always be a reminder of the year I lost a lot of my mobility and functions. I have become unsteady on my feet, using a walking stick on my good days and a wheelchair on my not so good days - which are becoming more and more frequent.
Everyday and night I am in pain. My memory is faltering. My speech is becoming more and more muddled. Bladder and bowel problems that I’m embarrassed to mention.
Every small or big symptom that becomes noticeable, adds to my ever-growing depression and anxiety. Without this treatment my future WILL BE completely wheelchair bound. It will mean severe disability, to the point of which I will not be able to do a single thing for myself. It won’t be a life.

I want a future where I can do all the normal daily life things that everyone else has the ability to do. I want to be with my daughter, to proudly walk next to her down the aisle on her wedding day. I want to be a support to my son and daughter, rather than them be the support to me. I hate that they have to watch me struggle and it breaks my heart knowing how much it is affecting their life too.



Please give my sister a much needed lifeline by making a donation to help her and her family get their lives back. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated, if you are unable to donate - a simple share of this page would go such a long way. 


Keep up with her story here: https://www.facebook.com/Lifeline-For-Deborah-2413468828877347/


Our heartfelt thanks,

Rhoda & Deborah x