His Wife Has MS And He’s Trying To Get Her Stem Cell Treatment Before It’s Too Late
Westfield, New Jersey. Multiple Sclerosis has changed life for this runner and former teacher, and her husband.
Jaime’s MS diagnosis 12 years ago meant that she would lose mobility to the point that she would be restricted to a single room in her family’s home.
But her husband Tony never gave up hope that there was a treatment that could make all the difference in Jaime’s care.
Tony shared on GoFundMe some of the activities he hopes Jaime can resume that fed her soul pre-MS.
“As a former special education teacher, writer, children’s book author, she was always on the go, picking up the kids from school, grocery shopping, tutoring her special ed kids after school,” he wrote.
“Just doing the so-called “normal” things we take for granted as able-bodied human beings.”
The couple tried infusions and self-injections, but these eventually lost their effectiveness. But Jaime continued to research methods that could help her cells regenerate and altered her diet and lifestyle to give herself the best chance of recovery.
But it wasn’t until the couple read about stem cell treatments that there was tangible hope for their future together.
GoFundMe; pictured above is Tony with his wife Jaime
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Unfortunately, these treatments are not yet approved in the US, so the couple will need to go abroad to seek care.
Tony shared the details on stem cell treatment; “It’s a pretty invasive process that involves chemotherapy and 30 days of isolation, but the outcome of this treatment is that her own NEW stem cells can be administered back into her body resetting her immune system.”
What does all this mean for Jaime’s MS? She could potentially go into remission and regain much of her former independence and quality of life.
But the treatment is time-sensitive since MS needs to be treated before it progresses beyond a specific benchmark for any hope of cell regeneration.
There’s also the issue of cost; $54,000 in another country. “But, thankfully,” Tony added in his post, “It does include the 30-day stay where I’d need to stay with Jamie in isolation in order for her body to accept the new stem cells and fully recover.”
To help this family achieve their New Year’s Resolution and give Jaime her life back, friends and strangers alike have donated to her treatment fund.
One person even shared fond memories of Jaime and Tony from their time together in Running club; “Jamie had a special sparkle which has continued to shine as she has battled MS.”
The couple has about $20,000 to go until they reach their $56,000 goal, which includes treatment costs without insurance, as well as airfare. You can find updates or donate on Jaime and Tony’s GoFundMe page.
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