MS Stem Cell Transplant for Nicole Furrer

Hello friends, family, and kind strangers:

Those of you who know Nicole (Niki) can agree, her infectious smile, laughter, and spunky attitude will immediately draw you in. What you would not notice is that under her smile and quick-witted jokes is a disease she's been battling for 20 years...Multiple Sclerosis. It is a disease like none other. MS looks different for each individual; it is incredibly difficult to diagnose, treat, and slow down progression. Currently her body is exhausted from the disease both physically and mentally. She uses a walking cane and can only be on her feet for a very limited time. The next stage of progression would be a full-time wheelchair. 

Nicole has been fighting her progression with a fierce determination to be one of the 'lucky' ones to figure out a way to slow it down. After exhausting all of her options with treatments & appointments locally in the US...she has made the extremely brave decision to undergo Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT).  This treatment has shown to have highly effective outcomes for patients with MS. Some patients symptoms have been reversed so far that some in a wheelchair are walking again, while others have run full marathons years after. Nicole wants to be able to walk without a cane, go to her favorite stores and coffee shops, along with being active with her husband Joe and son Tyler. 

The contributions from this Go Fund Me would help send Niki to the world's leading HSCT treatment facility in Moscow, Russia under the care of doctor Fedorenko. The treatment will last anywhere from 1-2 months where she will undergo an extensive medical procedure that includes; removal of her stem cells, 4 days of the highest dose of chemotherapy, stem cell replacement, and post physical therapy. Basically, her entire immune system is wiped clean and she starts over with brand new cells. It is a highly intensive treatment in which she will need a team for support and medical care.  

She has already been accepted into the program and would begin treatment with your help and support at the end of November. As members of her family, our hopes are that Nicole is able to reverse the progress of her MS, or at least be able to stop the progression through the HSCT treatment. At only 38 years old, she deserves to live the rest of her life without the pain & suffering from the disease and this treatment is her one chance that could make it possible. 

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for any contribution you make for sending Nicole towards the path of a new hopeful future!