Help Shelly beat Multiple Sclerosis with HSCT

You know the people who need help but will never ask for it themselves? They are usually the ones who always jump to help others. They are first to volunteer and always put others before themselves. We all know that person. That person for me is Shelly, and that is why I am doing this. This is a plea to help the one person who will never ask for help.

Shelly’s Story: One day in 2010, while driving to work, Shelly’s vision became blurry. When she got to work, she realized she could barely see the computer screen in front of her. As the day progressed, her vision worsened to the point where she couldn’t see. The next morning, Shelly went to see an optometrist who couldn’t find a reason for the sight impairment and sent her to a Neurologist. After blood tests, spinal taps and MRIs she was immediately diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Shelly was able to control her diagnosis with proper treatment until she relapsed in 2013 which caused permanent damage to her right leg. Shelly wasn’t going to let this stop her from her dream of being a mom and despite the hardships gave birth to two beautiful boys, now ages 7 and 6.

Unfortunately, despite her monthly Tysabri infusions, her physical condition worsened with each progressing year, and since 2019 walking has been a great challenge. Regardless, of her health Shelly kept putting others’ needs before herself… and just this year when Shelly has needed walking assistance, she and her husband Kfir, opened a Kosher supermarket which was much needed in their community.

How to Help: Multiple Sclerosis uses your immune system to attack your brain, your central nervous system as well as your nerve coatings, most people become physically and cognitively disabled. Shelly just wants to be the mom who can run around the park with her boys again.

HSCT, is the only procedure that can halt the progression of MS. Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) aims to stop the damage MS causes by wiping out your immune system using chemotherapy and then regrowing it using your stem cells. This procedure is extremely hard to receive here in the United States, as it has stringent requirements for the clinical trial. Therefore, people with M.S. travel abroad to seek our one chance at a semi "normal" life again. Shelly’s condition is deteriorating and her only hope of regaining a chance to walk around with her boys is by undergoing this intensive clinical treatment.

In total this endeavor to Clinica Ruiz in Mexico will cost approximately $65,000. ($54,500 + airfare + travel for one person to accompany her during this procedure + hired help with the kids during treatment).

With the love and support of her family, friends, and the kindness of strangers, I believe we can all help the person who won’t ask for it but needs it the most. Please help me make this happen not only for Shelly, but for her family! Thank you to all who can support Shelly in this life changing journey.