Help Tim Fight to Beat Multiple Sclerosis

Dear Friends and Family,

Last January, my husband Tim Noonan, was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. MS is an autoimmune disease where his immune system attacks his Central Nervous System damaging the Myelin sheath, which is the protective coating surrounding the nerves on his spinal cord and in his brain. RRMS will create lesions without any warning and can result in numerous symptoms ranging from fatigue, loss of vision, numbness, and tingling to loss of mobility and permanent disability. One of the most helpful resources we found, in addition to visiting the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, is the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. This link gives a thorough overview of what it is and how it affects people in different ways:

https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS

Tim’s first symptom occurred 14 years ago when he temporarily had blurred vision in his right eye. This is a classic first symptom of MS, but at the time the neurologist didn’t diagnose it after a course of high powered steroid infusions restored his vision.

Tim’s love for biking and skiing are at the center of his life. He is dedicated to taking care of himself so he can do all the things he loves, with the people he loves. After going through MRI’s in December and January for chronic pain in his neck and lower back area, lesions were discovered on his spinal cord. Another MRI of his brain showed lesions in his brain that had not been there 14 years earlier. The disease had progressed. Thankfully, Tim has not experienced permanent disabilities as of now, but he’s still in danger of it happening. This is very scary, not knowing if or when another lesion could happen and how it will affect him.

He is currently on a disease modifying treatment (DMT) to halt the progression of the disease, but there is still the possibility that the MS could go on the attack. The DMT he is currently taking is called Ocrevis, and it’s primary purpose is to shut down his immune system, which while helping with MS, leaves him highly susceptible to illness due to viral and bacterial infections and an increased chance of malignancy.

Tim has learned a lot about different ways to combat MS. One of the most promising ways to treat the disease and potentially heal his Central Nervous System is by going through a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) treatment. HSCT is a method which reboots his immune system so it will stop attacking his CNS. It involves harvesting his stem cells and preserving them while he undergoes chemotherapy to wipe out his malfunctioning immune system. The stem cells are then transplanted back into his body to reboot his immune system so it will work correctly. If successful, Tim will no longer have to take Ocrevis to halt MS, giving his immunsystem the ability to do the job it was meant to do.

After researching HSCT, Tim feels his best chance at beating MS is going through this process. Unfortunately, it is not offered as a treatment in the United States as it is still in clinical trials.

The good news is HSCT is offered as a highly effective treatment for MS in other countries including Israel, Russia, and Mexico, with great success. Tim has had the opportunity to talk with people who have gone through the treatment and see the successful outcomes of HSCT. It’s given Tim and me,Sara, great hope!

Tim is scheduled to go to Clinica Ruiz in Puebla, Mexico on October 23, 2022. He will be undergoing the treatment for 3-4 weeks, and then be home in recovery for a minimum of 3 weeks while his immune system rebuilds. Because he has to travel out of the US, our health insurance will not cover the costs of the treatment. If you are interested in learning more about the hospital and the treatment Tim will go through, please check out this link:

https://hsctmexico.com

The cost for the treatment is $54,000. We are working hard to save for the treatment, but it’s a challenge. Asking for help from others is always hard to do, but we have been encouraged by so many people to tell Tim’s story so our friends and family can help. We are humbled by, and grateful for, all the love and support we’ve received as Tim fights MS. We thank you with all our hearts. Love to all from both of us. Tim and Sara