Help Christine put a hold on her Multiple Sclerosis

A friend of ours ( Christine ) is about to head to Mexico to try and halt her Multiple Sclerosis ( MS) progression by undertaking Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT).

This is her story

I was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis 27 years ago at age 20.

This has now progressed to Secondary Progressive MS. Multiple Sclerosis is a demyelinating disease which damages the insulating cover of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. This damage disrupts the ability for messages to reach parts of the nervous system which results in many physical, cognitive and other problems.

Over the past few years I’ve noticed a deterioration in things such as my balance, mobility and memory.

This progression is not slowing down which has led me to research treatments available as I don’t want to get worse.

The one treatment which continues to come out on top for me is Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT). This treatment is not available in NZ, so I am going to go to Clinica Ruiz in Monterrey, Mexico for it.

My husband, Russell, and I talked to a lady (and her husband) who had had HSCT last year in Mexico and after lots of questions and information we decided I should go. I have been accepted for HSCT and am beginning treatment on April 6th, 2020!!!

HSCT is a chemotherapy based medical procedure that kills off your immune system and then reboots it using your own stem cells which are harvested from your blood. The understanding is that by doing this, the progression of MS will be halted.

While this is not 100% guaranteed, it is understood to be effective for 70-90% of patients with MS. These are odds I can live with!

Because there is going to be a pretty huge thing, Russell will be coming with me as my caregiver and number one supporter. The treatment will take 28 days at a cost of $54500 USD ($83000 NZD) It’s not a cheap treatment but one we have decided to undertake as I don’t want to live with regrets or ‘what if’s?”