Help Us Beat the Odds- MSA Cannot Win!

Hi, my name is Kristi my husband Scott has been diagnosed with a disease called MSA. This disease threatens our dreams of growing old together, it was devastating news! Around this time last year they told us they suspected MSA but they needed another brain MRI to be conclusive. Well we had the MRI, and two days before Easter of this year, the doctor called and told us it was MSA.It felt like our world was crashing down around us. They told us at that time that he had 4-7 years to live. I cannot imagine my life without him, he is my rock!

You might be asking what is MSA? It stands for Multiple System Atrophy. it is a disease that shrinks your cerebellum, which is the part of the brain that controls your involuntary muscles.This includes your heart, lungs, blood flow and everything your body does without thinking. Once symptoms start you are given 7-10 years to live. This is a rare disease with no cure.

Scott's symptoms started in the summer of 2021, he started getting unbalanced, dizzy and his blood pressure would drop.Since then his gait has changed, he can't walk a straight line, his words are slurred, he can be very hard to understand,he also struggles with his memory, both short and long term. This has made his work as house painter challenging.

I am not one to ask for help,but he has an opportunity to be part of an experimental stem cell trial at Mayo Clinic.The doctors have looked at his records and he is a good candidate! This is great news, what that means for us is many trips to Mayo for 2 week periods.He is self-employed so he is unable to work when he is gone, In addition to this I will be running out of sick days and we will not have my income either.We have our first appointment January 12 and have to stay until the 23rd. We are asking for help to cover the air travel, hotel and food costs while we are there. Will you help us?