This is a very hard post for me to write. I’m not quite sure how to start it really. I guess I’ll just throw it out there…
My parents both have Multiple Sclerosis. My father has had to deal with it for nearly 30 years now and my mother has been recently diagnosed in the last couple of years. My maternal grandmother died from complications from the disease as well. I hate this disease. I had to grow up with a father that struggled to walk. Had to be hospitalised when he had an “episode”. We nearly lost him one of those times as he couldn’t breathe on his own. He gets fatigued very easily and couldn’t keep a full time job. So, at the age of 29, he had to retire from the work force. This meant that my mother had to get a full-time job to help support our family. At the time I never thought anything of it because I didn’t know anything different. So, I had a stay-at-home-dad instead of a stay-at-home-mom. No biggie. So, he couldn’t walk very well, so, I’ll slow down so he can keep up. So, he had a hard time concentrating sometimes, so, I’ll say what I have to say a couple of times. So, he got tired easily, so, we’ll sit down and watch TV together. This was my life. At the time it didn’t bother me. Now, however, I’m pissed off about it. Not because of some selfish reason, but because of what my father had to deal with. He shouldn’t have had to live that life. He should have been able to live the life he wanted. A life that would have made everyone happy without a worry in the world.
The thing is, he probably could have lived that life. Why? Well, there is a procedure called the “liberation treatment” that has become world-wide news over the past year. It is a procedure that is being used on MS patients to help unblock some very important veins in their neck. Now, I’m not a doctor, so I don’t know all of the technical stuff about it but I do know that it is a very simple procedure that is giving MS patients around the world hope for a better life.
So, why am I telling you about this? Well, my family has decided to do something about it. My parents live in Canada and unfortunately they are not “allowing” MS patients to have this procedure. Personally I don’t understand why someone would not be “allowed” to have a simple procedure that could improve the quality of their life, but whatever. I’m not going to argue the politics of it all. We do, however, have a contact in the United States that is willing to perform this procedure on MS patients. Yay! The only problem is that it is going to cost approximately $20,000 for both of my parents to fly there, get the testing done and have the procedure. Well, for my parents this is a MAJOR obstacle. My dad is on disability pension and cannot work. My mother was recently declined a disability pension because she makes a whopping $500 per month doing bookkeeping. I do not know if you know how much money you get from a disability pension, but it’s peanuts. Not even enough to cover their living expenses, let alone an extra $20,000. It’s a joke, really. So, in an effort to try and help my parents get this procedure done we are asking for donations. Big, small, tiny, I don’t mind how much it is. Whatever you can afford would be great.
So, if you are willing to throw a couple of bucks in the pot, I would be eternally grateful. This is a major deal for my family and we really want to make it happen. My parents are only in their 50’s and they should be able to have a better quality of life for the rest of their life. Not having to live half a life until it’s all over. Please help?
Thank-you in advance from my family to yours…
Please follow the link below to our fundraising webpage for donations:
http://funds.gofundme.com/ve0k
~Shanna
Thank-you to ACT Playgroups for inviting me along to help them remember this fantastic event. I had a great time with the kids! Until next year!
