UPDATE Monday 1st October
Last night we sat and counted up the monies that have been raised and we were thrilled to find that we have raised a total of 6,013€ which is truly phenomenal and beyond our greatest expectations. Thank you everyone of you who helped get us this far. Ian is going to Poland next Monday, the operation is on the 11th. I shall post here and let you all know how he is getting on. He will be wheeled into theatre and with him he will be taking ALL of you. He wouldn't have been doing this without YOUR help. Thank you thank you thank you
UPDATE: Monday 17th September:
Thank you is something you say when someone makes you a cup of tea. Thank you is what you say when a stranger opens a door. Thank you is what you say to the cashier when she give you your receipt and change. Thank you. Just two words that are completely inadequate to convey my depth of feeling to EVERYONE who helped in any way make last night a success. It was a HUGE success YOU raised 2,572€ ! I made a short speech last night and for those of you who were not presentyou can read it here. In that speech I finished by saying that YOU could make a difference to someones life. Last night you all made that difference. Thank you. Both Ian and I are humbled and grateful and just a little shell shocked in a really, really nice way.
Read on for the full story before Sunday 16th September :
I started this website to raise awareness of Multiple Sclerosis and how it affects the lives of ALL those it touches. To be honest over the years I have become weary and often resentful of this illness and I lost the energy to keep this website up to date. However something sadly momentous happened this month, a forum friend lost her husband to progressive MS. It is something that is not often spoken about but men who were once physically fit are more likely to die from related MS issues than women. It has spurred us both on to do something and we are now actively fund raising for Ian to have the treatment he needs in Poland.
We cannot afford to wait any longer. Every year Ian takes another slide towards permanent wheelchair use and he needs his legs to improve his chances of a good outcome. So, Ian is going to go to Poland for CCSVI treatment and I am going to need your help in pulling it off. I need to raise 3,000€ before the 20th September 2012 and the balance of 4,990€ by October 11th 2012. So please check out the fund raising page and see if there is anything you can join in with. It doesn't matter how much you give, I promise you every single Euro/Pound helps.
His Story
Ian was diagnosed with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis in 2002. Since then his world has become smaller and his ability to walk and participate in day to day tasks difficult.
In 2010 following news that Multiple Sclerosis may be caused by blocked veins in the neck Ian went to Paris for a consultation and Doppler examination. It was found he has impaired blood flow to and from his brain.
Treatment is a simple angioplasty procedure that has been performed for the past 40 years on heart patients but as he has a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis he is not able to have an operation in France or the UK. He has waited for the government to make it possible for him to have this procedure. To date this has not happened.
There is the possibility for Ian to have this procedure in Poland and following the last published research it became evident that those people who were able to have a physically active recovery enjoyed better results. As Ians ability to walk deteriorates monthly he feels that he has to go NOW he cannot wait whilst governments and health authorities discuss the merits of this procedure. We need to raise 7,900€. You can help him make this possibility, a reality.
My Story
You can read the article I wrote about how living with his MS makes me feel here
We wish you and yours a very happy healthy life
Debbie and Ian
© Dandia 1999 - 2012
UPDATE Oct 13th:
From our hotel room in Katowice Poland.
From our hotel room in Katowice Poland.
Every experience here has been beyond our expectations. It has been fantastic. The people, the hotel, the food,the hospital,the operation, the hospital staff ALL have been kind, welcoming, knowledgeable, helpful and concerned.
Ian had various tests before the operation and during the doppler scan it was discovered that he not only had a blockage in his left jugular but also in his right. The one in his right was not apparent in the doppler he had in 2010 and it is possible it has caused the deterioration in his condition.
Ian had an angioplasty in both veins on Thursday. That evening he was given another doppler where it was evident that BOTH veins were now open and pumping blood in both directions.
So far there have been no miraculous improvements but then we did have one raising the money :)
We are both realistic, it has taken 10years to get to this point, it won't all disappear overnight, Ian now has proper blood flow to his brain and if we only halt the disease at this stage than that has got to be a huge positive.
But there are small improvements tiny little things that you probably wouldn't even notice but I do and so does Ian. His movements are more fluid, his energy is better and his eyesight is a little clearer and for those improvements we are extremely grateful.
We have been asked to come back in 6 months for a follow up and it is our intention to do so as this procedure needs as much medical evidence to propel it into mainstream MS care and we think Ian has a responsibility to do that. I shall post here once a month to keep you all up to date with all and any improvements.
None of this would have been possible without your help, you have been part of a life changing week and for that we both thank you from the very bottom of our hearts.
Ian had various tests before the operation and during the doppler scan it was discovered that he not only had a blockage in his left jugular but also in his right. The one in his right was not apparent in the doppler he had in 2010 and it is possible it has caused the deterioration in his condition.
Ian had an angioplasty in both veins on Thursday. That evening he was given another doppler where it was evident that BOTH veins were now open and pumping blood in both directions.
So far there have been no miraculous improvements but then we did have one raising the money :)
We are both realistic, it has taken 10years to get to this point, it won't all disappear overnight, Ian now has proper blood flow to his brain and if we only halt the disease at this stage than that has got to be a huge positive.
But there are small improvements tiny little things that you probably wouldn't even notice but I do and so does Ian. His movements are more fluid, his energy is better and his eyesight is a little clearer and for those improvements we are extremely grateful.
We have been asked to come back in 6 months for a follow up and it is our intention to do so as this procedure needs as much medical evidence to propel it into mainstream MS care and we think Ian has a responsibility to do that. I shall post here once a month to keep you all up to date with all and any improvements.
None of this would have been possible without your help, you have been part of a life changing week and for that we both thank you from the very bottom of our hearts.
