Joelle's cure for MS

My name is Joelle. I am a 41 year old mother of two. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in August 2003. I have memory loss, muscle pain and weakness, trouble swallowing, daily migraines, extreme fatigue, vision loss and depression. These are just a few of my debilitating symptoms. 

My family and I are raising money for a procedure called Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT). This is a possible cure for my MS and would give my children and I hope for the future.  I will spend 2-3 months traveling to and from Chicago. I will receive high doses of chemotherapy to destroy my immune system. The doctors will then extract my own cells through a catheter in my neck. I will receive more chemotherapy and my cells will be put back into my body. This treatment will "reboot" my immune system and give me a new system that will no longer attack itself.

This treatment is very expensive and is only partly covered under my insurance. All money raised will be used to help defray the cost of out-of-pocket medical and travel expenses.

Everyday I worry about mine and my children's futures. I worry about my battle with MS, and someday losing that battle. I never want to miss one special moment in my children, family or friend's lives. 

Your generosity and kindness would never be forgotten, because everyday that I can say I am cured of MS would be because of you!  Please help me stop this debilitating disease before it progresses any further! Thank you your valuable time and consideration.