Send Denise to Mexico for HSCT Multiple Sclerosis

Dear loving friends, family, colleagues and the wider community,

A great philosopher once stated: a friend is someone who reaches for your hand…but touches your heart. Our beautiful friend and loving mum Denise Schmidt has touched many hearts and generously given her time to so many people over the years. It’s OUR turn to give back. Please take a moment to read, donate and share our dear friend's story. She needs our help!

A DEVISTATING DAY

In 2017, Denise thought a troublesome pinched nerve would be cured after a quick visit to the GP. Tragically, upon further investigation into other developing symptoms, Denise was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple Sclerosis is a cruel disease effecting the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system.) The immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibres causing communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. MS has caused Denise’s loss of body functions such as fatigue, heavy legs, drop foot, loss of feeling in finger tips, sleep issues, migraines, loss of balance, others and results in a variety of debilitating symptoms before finally, paralysis and ultimately death.

Since Denise’s diagnosis, her lesions have multiplied and with new symptoms appearing and building on a regular basis. She wakes up each day with pain and struggles with what used to be simple daily tasks. Denise and her husband constantly worry about their future as they live with this rapidly progressing disease. It’s beyond comprehension.

Full of zest, and never one to complain, she has soldiered on with perseverance, grit and determination. Her incredible positive attitude has been an inspiration to witness however, we have also witnessed the impact MS has had on being an active mum to her two sons Bohdi (13) and Kye (10). With her symptoms at a point that blur their families future, Denise and Shannon have sought a treatment that offers hope.

Hope

In Australia, with varying outcomes, there are treatments that aim to slow the progression of the disease, and no cure. Denise and Shan have researched and been speaking to many people about MS which has led them to apply for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) in Mexico.

While HSCT has been expanding in the last decade, it’s still only in the trial phase in Australia, so they must leave the country. The journey will be brutal! Denise and Shan will spend 4 weeks under the care of Haematologists and Neurologists at a dedicated clinic. For the type of MS Denise has, Mexico has an impressive 80-90% success rate in halting MS.

HSCT works by taking and storing stem cells from her blood, blasting her body with chemotherapy to kill off the immune system before reinfusing the stem cells to build a new immune system. With hope, free from the symptoms of MS.

Our brave friend, with her husband will need to leave their two children to undergo HSCT. The cost for this operation is $100,000+ to pay for the treatment, outpatient accommodation and return flights.

With her positive approach to anything, Denise is focussed on a future where she’s free of restriction, gains her independence back and able to regain her effervescence to play an active role in her boys lives and future as any young mother should.

Let’s do this!

If you are able, please find it in your hearts to help Denise get to Mexico for this life-changing treatment. Please share this link with as many people on as many platforms as you possibly can. Every little amount counts!

Any contributions, advice, MS success stories, or helpful contacts you may have for Denise and her family is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your support. Hope is the one thing that can get us through the darkest of times – it’s the last thing ever lost. Let’s give Denise the power of hope!