sandiselvi
New member
I am so happy to see this site exists. I have been telling my story for over 7 years now, and finally feel like I am being heard.
In March of 2000 I had a stem cell transplant at Scripps in San Diego. I was the second person to go through their program to see if they could stop the progression of MS. You can read my story on my website www.sandiselvi.com but for now I will give you the short version. I was diagnosed in 1996, symptoms since 1979. I had gone progressive in 1999. I used a cane to walk, had double vision, no bladder control with infections every three months, tremors in my hands, muscle spasms in my back and legs, and the left side of my face was numb. It was a far cry from 1995 when I was coaching soccer, head of my kids art docent program at school, getting ready to take my black belt test in Tae Kwan Do, and running my own painting business called 'Off the Wall Designs' (I painted murals). So, when the doctors approached me with the idea, "MS is your immune system killing you, so if we kill your immune system and build a new one you won't have the problems you currently have." I jumped in with both feet, a cane and my eyes closed tight.
Six months after my transplant, I was in bed feeling sorry for myself, when I jumped up and ran to the bathroom to check out something in the mirror. That was when I realized I had ran, run. I had not been able to do that for years. This was when I realized the transplant had worked. Almost one year to the day after my transplant, I began doing stand-up comedy. I listened to comedy the entire time I was going through my transplant and decided if I ever got better, I was going to try and make everyone in the world feel as good as I did while I was laughing.
I currently do not need a cane, I still have a slight bit of drop foot, but nothing like it used to be. My tremors are completely gone. I have full control of my bladder, in fact last week I had my first bladder infection in 7 years and I knew right away. And added bonus, I am no longer allergic to anything (I used to have a list of 63 things).
The doctors were correct; the stem cell transplant changed my immune system. By looking at me you would never guess that I have Multiple Sclerosis, nor ever had MS. But I do warn those interested in doing this. They did radiate my thyroid, which has played havoc on my eyes and weight. Things I have been able to fix. It also threw me into the far end of Menopause; I don't think anyone can fix that. But the hormones help.
When asked, if I had to do it all over again, would I? The answer I give: YES, in a heartbeat.
In March of 2000 I had a stem cell transplant at Scripps in San Diego. I was the second person to go through their program to see if they could stop the progression of MS. You can read my story on my website www.sandiselvi.com but for now I will give you the short version. I was diagnosed in 1996, symptoms since 1979. I had gone progressive in 1999. I used a cane to walk, had double vision, no bladder control with infections every three months, tremors in my hands, muscle spasms in my back and legs, and the left side of my face was numb. It was a far cry from 1995 when I was coaching soccer, head of my kids art docent program at school, getting ready to take my black belt test in Tae Kwan Do, and running my own painting business called 'Off the Wall Designs' (I painted murals). So, when the doctors approached me with the idea, "MS is your immune system killing you, so if we kill your immune system and build a new one you won't have the problems you currently have." I jumped in with both feet, a cane and my eyes closed tight.
Six months after my transplant, I was in bed feeling sorry for myself, when I jumped up and ran to the bathroom to check out something in the mirror. That was when I realized I had ran, run. I had not been able to do that for years. This was when I realized the transplant had worked. Almost one year to the day after my transplant, I began doing stand-up comedy. I listened to comedy the entire time I was going through my transplant and decided if I ever got better, I was going to try and make everyone in the world feel as good as I did while I was laughing.
I currently do not need a cane, I still have a slight bit of drop foot, but nothing like it used to be. My tremors are completely gone. I have full control of my bladder, in fact last week I had my first bladder infection in 7 years and I knew right away. And added bonus, I am no longer allergic to anything (I used to have a list of 63 things).
The doctors were correct; the stem cell transplant changed my immune system. By looking at me you would never guess that I have Multiple Sclerosis, nor ever had MS. But I do warn those interested in doing this. They did radiate my thyroid, which has played havoc on my eyes and weight. Things I have been able to fix. It also threw me into the far end of Menopause; I don't think anyone can fix that. But the hormones help.
When asked, if I had to do it all over again, would I? The answer I give: YES, in a heartbeat.
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