Sandy Fights MS with HSCT in Mexico
Donation protected
I NEED YOUR HELP! I AM FIGHTING TO HALT THE PROGESSION OF MY MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS)
I need to stop this delibitating and chronic illness from taking control of me. I am going to fight and get my life back. I am booked in to have HSCT (Stem Cell/Chemo treatment in May this year.
It's my only hope!!
ABOUT ME
Many of you that know me, know me as a Wildlife Photographer, with a passion and even some talent haha, for photographing birds as well as other exotic creatures on the Atherton Tablelands. The sometimes secretive lives of the Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo or the Platypus have often been of big interest and photo opportunity to me, and I was very lucky to produce a DVD called Platypus Encounters, that was very popular for a few years and sold through the local Visitor Centres and Galleries. I also filmed the Tree-kangaroos for a number of years but am yet to make another DVD. (This may be possible in my recovery time)? You may also know me through my Wildlife Photography sites on Flickr and Facebook where I try to share new and exciting photos each day or week. I'm so lucky to live here and have an amazing array of birds and creatures in easy access- near to my car, and take many photos through my car window. This is becoming more difficult with the loss of strength and functioning. Photography has been my love in life since I was a teenager and to lose this ability would be devastating to me and the Wildlife that love me . I know they would miss me too.
https://www.facebook.com/sandy.carroll.7583
https://www.facebook.com/SandyCPhotography/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyc/
I was diagnosed with Relapsing/Remitting MS in 1993, and have been on a roller coaster ride ever since, but learnt to cope with relapses that took over my life for 3 mths at a time. It's been a crazy ride at times, for myself, my family, friends and relationships. This took away many work/study opportunities and I instead took on casual type of work in the photography industry and in the hospitality field,but still managed some very exciting jobs in some of Australia's most Beautiful locations, including Lamington National Park, Carnarvon Gorge, Lord Howe and Fraser Islands.
I have been working part-time for my parents for the past 12 yrs at Lake Eacham Tourist Park on the Atherton Tablelands. This is getting more difficult every day, due to many MS symptoms . My MS has progressed to the next stage called Secondary Progressive MS. (SPMS) This is an aggressive form that has no improvement over the past 2 yrs. I now walk with a permanent limp so use a walking stick and have recently started to use a wheelchair for longer walks as I'm limited to very short distances now. My right side of my body is totally MS effected so this is disabling me at an alarming rate. My right hand is unable to grip anything or work with normal functions. I can't write, or carry anything (unless tucked in my weak arm) , very difficult to put my hair up , dressing or undressing, putting shoes on, cutting my dinner using a knife doesn't happen anymore. It's all fun and games with these everyday things I used to take for granted. I need to lift my leg for dressing or getting in my car. I have big falls often and am contstantly bruised all over due to loss of balance. I also have choking/swallowing problems with nearly every drink I have, pain, stiffness, numbness and weakness constantly, blurred vision and vertigo. Don't get me wrong I know there are many worse off than me but my only hope of keeping my Sanity - oh sorry, I mean, Independance and Halting this disease, and hopefully even improving symptoms, is to undergo HSCT
Please help me raise funds !! Any amount will help! X
I am scheduled to go to Clinica Ruiz, a Hospital in Puebla, Mexico, to have HSCT / Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant on May 22nd 2017 at a cost of US $54.000 and so need approx. AU$80 000 to cover treatment, accommodation, carer/nurse, airfares for myself and 1 family member to help. I know this sounds like an insane amount but it's truly my only hope .
HSCT can stop the progression
I am very pragmatic and appreciate there no “cure” for MS but this treatment that is widely used in other immune system diseases has been shown to halt or dramatically reduce the rate of progression of MS. This is not only based on reports from MS patients but is also demonstrated by a number of clinical trials in the US and Europe.
The treatment is called Hematopioetic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT). First my own Hematopioetic (blood) stem cells are collected and multiplied in the laboratory. I then have quite intense chemotherapy (say that bit quickly) to kill of the existing immune cells responsible for attacking my nerve cells. My stem cells are then replaced by transfusion and they rebuild my immune cells; this time so it is healthy and no long attacks my nerve cells.
"NO CHEMO NO CURE." - HSCT has nothing to do with the so called "stem cell therapy" approaches that are being done in clinics all around the U.S. and elsewhere. HSCT needs chemotherapy in order to be effective. Chemo kills the underlying cause of the disease--the faulty immune system whose autoimmune cells were programmed to attack one’s OWN body. Going forward, my stem cells will “reboot” and rebuild a NEW IMMUNE SYSTEM
MS patients and clinical trials are reporting remarkable results - early stage MS is often reversed, while the more advanced stage, such as mine, is often stopped in its tracks.
Unfortunately HSCT treatment is still under development in Australia but independent clinical trials in the US and UK have reported very positive results and clinics in Germany, Israel, Mexico, Russia and the Philippines are offering HSCT for MS.
I just do not have the time to wait until this treatment is available in the Australian Health system. I need to act fast so after being on the waiting list for over a year, I am now booked in for HSCT in May 2017. Existing Clinics vary in price from around US$50,000 - US$140,000. I have researched difference clinics and results for over a year now and have booked into the Clinica Ruiz in Puebla, Mexico, as it has a wonderful reputation and has really great feedback from the MS community. It’s also one of the less expensive :)
This is why I need your help, The cost and associated expenses are at least AU$80,000. This covers the cost of all treatment, accommodation in a specialised apartment just near the hospital for a month, and travel expenses for a Carer and myself. This is quite URGENT as I need to pay the hospital by March 2017
So here we go! I need strength and support and financial help to fight harder than ever to overcome this disease and continue to live an independent life and keep photographing and sharing photos of our beautiful wildlife .
Your support and generosity is much appreciated. With your help my future is a brighter one.
Please share my GoFundMe campaign on your Facebook and social media! If people continue to share my message--my goal to regain my strength and my quality of life will be achieved!
Thank you for your donations!!! XX
I will be giving updates on Facebook and maybe a blog too, when the time comes, so you can follow my journey if so inclined.
Gratefully,
Sandy Carrolll, Family and Friends
I need to stop this delibitating and chronic illness from taking control of me. I am going to fight and get my life back. I am booked in to have HSCT (Stem Cell/Chemo treatment in May this year.
It's my only hope!!
ABOUT ME
Many of you that know me, know me as a Wildlife Photographer, with a passion and even some talent haha, for photographing birds as well as other exotic creatures on the Atherton Tablelands. The sometimes secretive lives of the Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo or the Platypus have often been of big interest and photo opportunity to me, and I was very lucky to produce a DVD called Platypus Encounters, that was very popular for a few years and sold through the local Visitor Centres and Galleries. I also filmed the Tree-kangaroos for a number of years but am yet to make another DVD. (This may be possible in my recovery time)? You may also know me through my Wildlife Photography sites on Flickr and Facebook where I try to share new and exciting photos each day or week. I'm so lucky to live here and have an amazing array of birds and creatures in easy access- near to my car, and take many photos through my car window. This is becoming more difficult with the loss of strength and functioning. Photography has been my love in life since I was a teenager and to lose this ability would be devastating to me and the Wildlife that love me . I know they would miss me too.
https://www.facebook.com/sandy.carroll.7583
https://www.facebook.com/SandyCPhotography/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyc/
I was diagnosed with Relapsing/Remitting MS in 1993, and have been on a roller coaster ride ever since, but learnt to cope with relapses that took over my life for 3 mths at a time. It's been a crazy ride at times, for myself, my family, friends and relationships. This took away many work/study opportunities and I instead took on casual type of work in the photography industry and in the hospitality field,but still managed some very exciting jobs in some of Australia's most Beautiful locations, including Lamington National Park, Carnarvon Gorge, Lord Howe and Fraser Islands.
I have been working part-time for my parents for the past 12 yrs at Lake Eacham Tourist Park on the Atherton Tablelands. This is getting more difficult every day, due to many MS symptoms . My MS has progressed to the next stage called Secondary Progressive MS. (SPMS) This is an aggressive form that has no improvement over the past 2 yrs. I now walk with a permanent limp so use a walking stick and have recently started to use a wheelchair for longer walks as I'm limited to very short distances now. My right side of my body is totally MS effected so this is disabling me at an alarming rate. My right hand is unable to grip anything or work with normal functions. I can't write, or carry anything (unless tucked in my weak arm) , very difficult to put my hair up , dressing or undressing, putting shoes on, cutting my dinner using a knife doesn't happen anymore. It's all fun and games with these everyday things I used to take for granted. I need to lift my leg for dressing or getting in my car. I have big falls often and am contstantly bruised all over due to loss of balance. I also have choking/swallowing problems with nearly every drink I have, pain, stiffness, numbness and weakness constantly, blurred vision and vertigo. Don't get me wrong I know there are many worse off than me but my only hope of keeping my Sanity - oh sorry, I mean, Independance and Halting this disease, and hopefully even improving symptoms, is to undergo HSCT
Please help me raise funds !! Any amount will help! X
I am scheduled to go to Clinica Ruiz, a Hospital in Puebla, Mexico, to have HSCT / Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant on May 22nd 2017 at a cost of US $54.000 and so need approx. AU$80 000 to cover treatment, accommodation, carer/nurse, airfares for myself and 1 family member to help. I know this sounds like an insane amount but it's truly my only hope .
HSCT can stop the progression
I am very pragmatic and appreciate there no “cure” for MS but this treatment that is widely used in other immune system diseases has been shown to halt or dramatically reduce the rate of progression of MS. This is not only based on reports from MS patients but is also demonstrated by a number of clinical trials in the US and Europe.
The treatment is called Hematopioetic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT). First my own Hematopioetic (blood) stem cells are collected and multiplied in the laboratory. I then have quite intense chemotherapy (say that bit quickly) to kill of the existing immune cells responsible for attacking my nerve cells. My stem cells are then replaced by transfusion and they rebuild my immune cells; this time so it is healthy and no long attacks my nerve cells.
"NO CHEMO NO CURE." - HSCT has nothing to do with the so called "stem cell therapy" approaches that are being done in clinics all around the U.S. and elsewhere. HSCT needs chemotherapy in order to be effective. Chemo kills the underlying cause of the disease--the faulty immune system whose autoimmune cells were programmed to attack one’s OWN body. Going forward, my stem cells will “reboot” and rebuild a NEW IMMUNE SYSTEM
MS patients and clinical trials are reporting remarkable results - early stage MS is often reversed, while the more advanced stage, such as mine, is often stopped in its tracks.
Unfortunately HSCT treatment is still under development in Australia but independent clinical trials in the US and UK have reported very positive results and clinics in Germany, Israel, Mexico, Russia and the Philippines are offering HSCT for MS.
I just do not have the time to wait until this treatment is available in the Australian Health system. I need to act fast so after being on the waiting list for over a year, I am now booked in for HSCT in May 2017. Existing Clinics vary in price from around US$50,000 - US$140,000. I have researched difference clinics and results for over a year now and have booked into the Clinica Ruiz in Puebla, Mexico, as it has a wonderful reputation and has really great feedback from the MS community. It’s also one of the less expensive :)
This is why I need your help, The cost and associated expenses are at least AU$80,000. This covers the cost of all treatment, accommodation in a specialised apartment just near the hospital for a month, and travel expenses for a Carer and myself. This is quite URGENT as I need to pay the hospital by March 2017
So here we go! I need strength and support and financial help to fight harder than ever to overcome this disease and continue to live an independent life and keep photographing and sharing photos of our beautiful wildlife .
Your support and generosity is much appreciated. With your help my future is a brighter one.
Please share my GoFundMe campaign on your Facebook and social media! If people continue to share my message--my goal to regain my strength and my quality of life will be achieved!
Thank you for your donations!!! XX
I will be giving updates on Facebook and maybe a blog too, when the time comes, so you can follow my journey if so inclined.
Gratefully,
Sandy Carrolll, Family and Friends
Organizer
Sandy Carroll
Organizer
Butchers Creek QLD
