Transplant4Kerrie – Bone Marrow Transplant for Multiple Sclerosis

Product Description

Gosford, New South Wales, Australia

Supporters

My name is Colleen.

I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Kerrie is my friend.

Kerrie has MS too.

Thing is, my MS has stopped progressing.

Kerrie’s hasn’t.

Long story short, back in the 1990s it was discovered that a bone marrow transplant used for leukaemia (now referred to as a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant, or HSCT) not only worked for leukaemia, it put MS in remission too.

While it didn’t get any attention here in Australia for years, by 2015/16 Kerrie was aware that HSCT was being used for MS.

I’d been looking into it too and through our MS connections we stumbled across each other as we simultaneously saw an overwhelming number of successes.

We found HSCT being trialled as therapy for MS in many countries, including Australia.

It won’t be an approved procedure for MS here until trials are complete.

Some countries have already accepted HSCT as a viable option for MS and offer it to their own citizens.

A few of those countries have opened their doors to international MS patients too.

I took that opportunity, just as other Australians with MS have done over the last few years.

I went to Russia.

Kerrie had saved hard, cashed in some superannuation insurance and was almost set to go to Russia as well.

But fate intervened, a dreadful work accident for Kerrie’s husband saw all those plans defeated.

Kerrie’s husband will never be able to work again.

Kerrie and hubby Doug have since needed to spend much of their HSCT savings, to keep their mortgage intact and for daily expenses like electricity, water and groceries.

Kerrie now receives a part disability pension and her husband a monthly work compensation payment, which totals to less than half of their previous income.

The procedure and other expenses involved to access HSCT overseas, cost the better part of $100,000 all up.

MS is a progressive disease, so it gets worse over time.

Waiting years for a trial to confirm that HSCT is ok for MS obviously doesn’t appeal to people who are physically deteriorating every month, every week, every day … people like Kerrie.

Time = progressing disability.

My disease progress has stopped since having HSCT.

Today you might see me walking outside without assistance, which NEVER happened the year before I travelled to Russia.

I’ve been SO fortunate.

If I hadn’t travelled to Russia and undergone HSCT, I would be in a wheelchair today.

I can’t quite explain, all I know is that I feel truly blessed, and it’s not right that anyone should suffer when there’s a chance to avoid that fate.

I don’t have any spare $thousands$ to give my friend.

I truly wish I did.

And there’s just no way I’ll sit back and watch Kerrie deteriorate (I’m seeing it nowww) without at least trying to help her get the treatment she wants.

So far I’ve done the usual stuff, a Facebook fundraiser, a PayPal pool, sold some t-shirts, sold some other fundraising items, auctioned some of my stuff on eBay, donated the proceeds of a garage sale.

And Kerrie’s family arranged a dance night fundraiser.

With a HUGE effort from Kerrie herself she’s gotten closer to the $100,000 – but we need to keep pushing on, every donation, every single $ gets Kerrie closer to the chance of halting the progress of her MS.

Nobody deserves MS.

Especially not a decent, loving mother, wife and friend like Kerrie.

Kerrie deserves the chance to have the HSCT procedure she was so close to achieving two years ago.

After submitting her complete MS history to Dr Fedorenko at the A. A. Maximov Department of Hematology and Cellular Therapy, National Pirogov Medical Surgical Centre, Kerrie was accepted and scheduled for HSCT in Moscow to commence treatment on 31 March 2020.

BUT fundraising hasn’t yet allowed her to proceed with that date, because right now is when Kerrie would be arranging visas and flights if going in March.

Kerrie has put in a massive effort but is about $30,000 short and has had to postpone Russia til July.

Meanwhile her MS progresses.

That’s it, this is URGENT.

Scroll to the Donate button on this page to help Kerrie.

Every dollar is appreciated, a few or a few more if you can.

Helping another human being can make you feel really good.

To everyone that’s already donated … thank you, you’re SO awesome!

To everyone else, now’s your chance to step up to ‘awesome’!

There’s no special amount required, you can choose the amount.

It’s a bit cliche’d these days but how about giving up that cup of coffee today, maybe make a sandwich instead of buying that takeaway meal.

C’mon, please chuck in the cost of that much.

After you’ve done that you’ll feel so good!

Thank you!

Cash donation direct to Kerrie

5 years ago

– Offline donation

$250

Anonymous

5 years ago

$200

Buff Point GS

5 years ago

– Offline donation

$630

Garage Sale 7 Sept

5 years ago

– Offline donation

$250

Anonymous … Valhalla village

5 years ago

– Offline donation

$20

Garage sale funds

5 years ago

– Offline donation

$10

Nicole Newman

5 years ago

$25

Shannon Smith

5 years ago

$100

Dani Steinhardt

5 years ago

$25

Sarah Baigent

5 years ago

$100

Colleen Daniels

Kerrie Kinnell