Tasha's MS Journey

Help me get my life back

My name is Natasha and I have been lucky enough to get the chance to travel to Russia to receive life changing HSCT treatment to stop my MS from getting any worse.

I have a beautiful family and enjoy spending time with them, but sometimes my MS stops me from doing everything I want to.

I have always been a active person and have a passion being tramping, walking and biking.

I was diagnosed with MS when I was only 24 years old after having an attack. I went blind in one eye, lost feeling in my fingers and had a very weak leg. I was lucky enough to regain my sight and feeling in my hands but my leg has remained weak.

After being diagnosed my attacks and symptoms were steady but have progressively gotten worse as I have gotten older.

In 2008 was when my ability to go on tramps stopped as I no longer had the strength to walk for a long time.

My trip of a lifetime was ruined because of MS. I had a severe attack early in the morning and I thought I was having a stroke. For the remainder of the trip I was confined to a wheelchair and I was constantly worried about whether or not there was wheelchair

access to the places we were going.

I am now 45 years old and my symptoms are getting worse and attacks are getting more frequent. I can now only stand up for 15 minutes at a time before I get tired. I have to spend my energy wisely as a task as simple as hanging the washing on the line can completely

drain me. I have to take a nap each day as I now have extreme fatigue.

My attacks can happen at any time and I am constantly worried about how I can do anything and each attack is making me worse.

I have been lucky enough to get accepted to travel to Russia to receive HSCT (Hematopoietic

stem cell transplantation) treatment that will help to stop the disease in its tracks. Although the treatment doesn’t cure MS it stops it from getting any worse.

The 4-5 week treatment is done in Russia, which involves stem cell transplantation

and intense chemotherapy. This is followed by 100 days home isolation here in New Zealand while my immune system rebuilds.

It is a very invasive intense treatment, but it's worth it because it is going to stop my MS from getting worse.

The results from this treatment are amazing but it comes at a hefty price of $100,000 NZD.

I would really appreciate all of the help and support to help me get there!

Please help me get my life back!

Natasha.