Help Lenny Fight Against Multiple Sclerosis

Dear loving friends and family, please take a moment to read and share my best friend's story. I want to help him get the medical treatment he needs.

Lenny Ilyaich was diagnosed with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis at the beginning of 2015. Multiple Sclerosis is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system.) In MS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. MS causes loss of body functions and could result in numbness, vision problems, difficulty walking and paralysis.

Lenny’s symptoms started with weakness in his legs, fatigue and blurry vision. At the time, he didn’t know what it was and never thought that it could be something serious. But since his diagnosis, the illness started to take over and took away things he loved, like his career. He was a successful young chef with a bright future ahead, but because of MS, he couldn’t work in the kitchen anymore. MS symptoms get worse in a high-heat environment. Next, his legs started to give up on him. Before MS, he could run miles in the park, but today he can barely walk 1/4 of a block without stopping for a break. He developed Drop Foot Syndrome, where his foot does not receive nerve signals from his brain to lift, so the foot is essentially numb, dragging around. His body doesn't listen to him. He thinks he’s raising his legs to walk, but his body is not performing the function. He can easily trip and fall if he has no support nearby. His legs feel heavy like bricks. He had to give up driving his car and now depends on others for transportation. In addition to Drop Foot, he suffers from chronic pain, disbalance, vertigo, and spasticity. He goes to bed with pain and wakes up in pain. Although he lives with chronic pain and has limited functions in his limbs, he doesn’t “qualify” for disability benefits from NY State. To continue to provide for his family, he had to get creative and work from home. Some of you may have seen him working hard on his YouTube Channel, “Lounging With Lenny.” He remains positive and optimistic for his wife and daughters throughout this pain.

Before, his illness was progressing slowly, but Lenny's body functions rapidly declined over the past three years. As a result, his Neurologist revised his diagnosis from Relapsing-Remitting MS to Primary Progressive MS. He is getting weaker by the day, and there is no cure. There is no medication or magical pill for MS.

Lenny recently learned about the HSCT transplant, a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This treatment is the only hope of giving him more time. He plans to travel to the Pirogov Clinic in January to undergo the HSCT Transplant while under the care of Dr. Fedorenko. The Pirogov Institute has successfully treated people with MS and aims to stop the progression of the disease. It is a very tough and expensive procedure. It includes an aggressive dosage of chemotherapy, which will wipe out his immune system. But reviews are very optimistic.

In Lenny’s case, time is his worst enemy, and I don't know how the next year will look for him without this treatment. He doesn’t want to give up. He wants to keep fighting for his family, his wife and his two daughters. Lenny has his whole life ahead of him, and watching such a strong young man deteriorate is painful. Let's help him get the treatment he deserves by donating to cover his medical expenses.

We greatly appreciate any contributions, advice, MS success stories, or helpful contacts you may have for Lenny and his family. Thank you for your support. We are grateful for your help!