I am 40 years old and I live in Gladstone, Queensland with my husband Jason and my two children Sienna (9yrs) and Kane (6yrs).
On the 21st of January this year I was given the shocking news that I had MS.This is a chronic, progressive disease of the nervous system.There is no cause and no cure.
Everybody suffers Ms differently.No person with Ms is the same. My experience has not been pleasant and has affected my family greatly since my diagnosis. You lose control of your own body and normal activities in life become a huge effort.Since January this year I have had random numbness in my arms and legs.Some days I have struggled to walk or use my fingers. I have had severe pain in my eye and body, spasticity in my legs, the feeling of ants crawling under my skin and burning and tingling pain on my face and body.I have had tremors (uncontrollable shaking) at night. I have suffered MS fatigue and constant chronic pain. I have become very reliant on friends and strangers helping me and my children daily.I wake up every morning exhausted and by 10am I want to go back to sleep for the entire day.
I am on medication for MS however this only delays the disabilities, it cannot halt it. There is treatment available overseas which has proven to halt the MS progression.This is called HSCT (Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation). The 4 week procedure won’t cure my MS but I won’t get worse.They are only trialling this in Australia. By the time this is available it will be too late for me. Every year my disabilities may get worse. I can eventually be in a wheelchair, lose my sight, my hearing, my memory, my ability to talk and swallow.
Please help me win my fight with MS! If I don’t go overseas and have the treatment I will keep deteriorating. I fought for my diagnosis and now I am fighting for my children Sienna and Kane who need their Mummy. Please assist me with my fund raising goal! The cost is AUD $80000. I have applied to go to Mexico (Puebla). My admission date is 28 March 2016.
All funds raised will be used towards the treatment cost.Any funds that I receive over my goal will be donated to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Queensland.I hope to conquer this illness and help others with MS as well.
Every dollar will help me get there and I thank you with all my heart! Cathy x
Hi Cathy. A little more to help out! All the best with your treatment & recovery. Stay strong & keep smiling. Love Carolyn xx