Nat's MS Treatment in Russia
We are fundraising for Natalie Adams HSCT treatment in Russia
Bay of Plenty
My name is Nat and I am on a journey to Russia for HSCT treatment to rid myself of MS and regain my life!!!
I am a 38 year old, solo mother of 2 beautiful girls, Issy 9 and Tovah 8, from New Zealand.
I was diagnosed with RRMS in 2011 at the age of 32 after an episode of Optic Neuritis in my right eye. After diagnosis I decided to move back to NZ (from Australia) to have more family support. I had no idea when making this decision that it would mean no medication, as the criteria for the much needed DMD (disease modifying drug) was different to that of Australia, and I did not qualify!!!
At the end of 2014 the criteria here in NZ was finally changed, but still they wanted me to actually suffer ANOTHER relapse before putting me on the meds. Was just crazy and I had now been 3 years diagnosed with no treatment.
I was of pretty good health MS wise, until suffering my worst relapse to date, in April 2017, resulting in damage to my spinal cord this time and further damage to my brain. Finally I was started on the med Gilenya (fingolimod) in July of this year. My disease is now progressing and it’s scary!!
Although I have recovered from the original symptoms, I have been left suffering from fatigue so badly, and my cognitive function is terrible, everyday is a struggle. Everyday I now know I have MS!!
Desperate for a solution, not just for myself but for my girls too, I made the hardest decision of my life. I applied for a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant in Russia. It is a 4-5 week treatment in Russia with around 100 days home isolation on my return to NZ, while my immune system begins to re-build.
The results from this treatment have been amazing but it comes at a cost.... $100,000 nzd is what I will need to raise, to cover all costs involved. My admission date is 27th August 2018, so that leaves me just 9 months to do it.
Please help me get there and get my life back!!!
Nat xx
Teresa Erasmuson's involvement (page creator)
I'm the first port of contact for the Fundraising for Nats treatment in Russia, Im Nats cousin and know we will get this, and help Nat to be back to her full self!
Use of funds
For Full treatment, Flights, accommodation, living costs after the return to NZ from Russia until Nat is back to good health.
Other page links
Latest update
Strange Worries 22 March 2018
Sometimes what we are worried about can be so strange, yet that is all you can fixate on. Like when I was learning to drive, I was so worried about having to use the indicators. Changing gears didn’t bother me, being in charge of a motor vehicle didn’t bother me, but I lost sleep over indicating 😂.
So my treatment is chemo based. That’s the important part, that will annihilate my immune system and get rid of this monster brewing inside of me 👌. But it also means I will lose all my hair. This doesn’t phase me in the slightest, but my little girl Tovah (black beanie) is devastated. Hates the idea, it really upsets her and I was starting to feel like she was actually starting to get frightened knowing I was going to return BALD!!!
It has been really upsetting 😢, I don’t want to come home and she is scared of me, it would absolutely break my heart 💔. So the Mum I am, sprung into action....I need to fix this!!!
I suggested the girls cut my hair off together (it’s currently down to my bum 😳). Issy was keen, but Tovah, um nope 👎 so not happy with that idea.
Mmmmm...then I saw these beanies, in adult and kid sizes 💡. I thought maybe, if we had matching beanies, and she could see that we all looked the same with them on, it would somehow make her not so worried 🤞. Worth a try!!!
They arrived, we put them on.....she gazed at me, touched my face, and said “Mumma, apart from those whispy bits of hair at the back, this is just what you will look like, you look beautiful Mum” 😢😢😭
So the deal will be, that when we first see each other on my return, we all wear our beanies. I will be wearing my black one that day, to match my Tovah. And I am praying that I will be met with 4 arms wrapped around my neck and no fear in sight 💙💜
Sometimes what we worry about can be so strange....I’m hoping I have relieved her worry....this time. And hope I don’t have to wear the beanie permanently till my hair returns 😬
Nat xx
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