Give a little to help Karyn get HSCT treatment overseas

This page has been created to raise funds for my mother Karyn. We are hoping to raise enough money for her to travel overseas to receive life-changing treatment in Russia, which could halt the progression of her MS and potentially bring back her mobility. This treatment has been long sought-after and now we need that final push to make the dream a reality.

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks the protective myelin sheathing around neurons, causing extensive nerve damage and affecting speech, sight, cognitive function and mobility. After suffering from a numbing sensation coupled with overwhelming fatigue in early 2010, Karyn was diagnosed with the Relapsing-Remitting form of Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS).

The only treatment offered here in New Zealand are Disease Modifying Drugs (DMD’s) which are only 30% successful at delaying the inevitable progression of the disease into a permanent disability. DMD’s are hard on the body and also come with a whole range of horrible side effects. Even with this medication Karyn has suffered from multiple relapses, the last of which has weakened her left leg and severely impacted her ability to walk.

There is some hope on the horizon for MS patients in the form of HSCT (Hematopoietic stem cell transplant). Many countries have been using this procedure for cancer since the 1960s, and in more recent years researchers have found it also helps halt a range of auto immune diseases. 2 million stem cells are extracted from the patient's blood, followed by a high dose of chemotherapy for 4 days. Following the procedure there will be an extensive period of isolation as the immune system recovers.

Karyn will be treated at the Pirogov National Medical Centre in Moscow, Russia. The total cost for treatment is around NZ$100,000, including flights and accommodation.

To help Karyn shoulder the cost of this venture I have started this give a little page.

Any contribution you can make would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you for your generosity and support. xx