September 17, 2016
Thought it was time for another update. We are down to the wire now a little over 2 weeks and we will head to Mexico for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) for short. Will be there for 28 days. We will get there a few days ahead to get our bearings and rest from the travel to get there. We leave Wed Oct 5th and we come home Sat Nov 5th. I am not scared maybe a little anxious nervous, I have noticed a butterfly in my stomach once or twice. My funds are pretty well in order besides the expenses for the month of October which shouldn't be too bad depending on any out of the ordinary medical which I don't anticipate. When I come home I will have 5 monthly boosters of a chemo drug to keep blood cells where they need to be.
Bottom line this is all coming together because of the love from my family and friends donating what is needed for this treatment. I plan on trying to send updates on what is happening during treatment with the help of Charl and Charlie. Charl will be there too for the first part of treatment to be with me during chemo. It will be good for Charlie too. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all the help and caring during this. It means so very much to me. Love you all!
July 14, 2016
A new update, special thanks to Barb Hernandez for all you have done and to make the motorcycle fundraiser ride happen and selling t-shirts, sweatshirts,mugs too. Your donation made it go up over $7,000. Looking good. I can't thank all others that have donated enough never will be able to but know it couldn't be more appreciated. I can't wait for this journey to begin and the healing to begin also. I feel so positive about the outcome. Still nothing but great results coming from Mexico and the price increase won't take effect until after the first of the year and I need to pay end of Dec. So I made it!! Woohoo on that!! Family and friends I love you all!!
July 4, 2016
HI there time for an update, I got my date 2-27-17. I am so excited this is really going to happen. Sounds like a long way off but it will go fast. I have lots to get in order. Especially this fundraiser. Bike run coming up on July 9th that should give me another push. I am refinancing the house that is another good push. But if you see this I still need lots of help, so any amount is so very appreciated. I can't thank anyone enough for all the help. I know this will all come together for me, I am so positive for the help and the outcome of going to Mexico. I know it is the right place to help. Thank you all again with much heartfelt love. Susan
May 17, 2016
As I see donations coming in I can't begin to say how thankful I feel for this being done for me. I hate that I have to do this I so wish it was available here but they say within the next decade well I can't keep taking drugs that don't work and this has been going on for years in other countries and working for so many MS patients. I have been reading everyday for the past few months of peoples results and all say they wish they would have done it sooner. They have no regrets. I know I have a long road ahead of me I should see results soon after but they will be minimal as it will take 2-3 years for me to see the most benefits but MS will be gone. When I read someone who is in their 60's and have done amazing it gives me a lot of hope younger would be better but that has passed me by. This is very emotional for me to have to do this. I will never be able to thank everyone enough for this gift of love. I don't cry very often but this does bring me to tears for all the love I feel. I can't imagine being able to walk faster or have less pain or think clearer hopefully I'll get to have those things for a little while before I get old and have to complain about that. Thank you I love you all!!
May 15, 2016
Here is another reason I want to get rid of MS. I need to be with them while they are young and going to their baseball games, gymnastics and everything while are growing up. I want to go on walks with them and not have them worrying about me if I am ok. Love this picture only Greg is missing, he was working. I love them very much along with all my other family and friends.
May 11, 2016
This HelpHOPELive fundraiser has been set up for my beautiful mother-in-law who has been battling Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for over 25 years. MS is a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system; brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve. There is no cure for MS.
In her early diagnosis there were no drugs for treating the disease. In 1997 she started taking the FDA approved drug Avonex that kept the MS stable for 14 years. In 2011 the drug stopped working and her MS became active with her symptoms worsening. In the past 5 years her disease progression has advanced considerably affecting her quality of life. Susan is suffering with chronic pain, swollen and stiff legs making it difficult and painful to walk, blurred vision, tremors, bladder issues, cognitive problems involving memory, reasoning, and verbal fluency, difficulty with balance and coordination and incredible fatigue.
Susan has tried most of the FDA approved drugs to slow the MS progression without success. She has exercised all her options and she is rapidly declining with each year getting worse.
We have found a treatment called HSCT, hematopoietic stem cell transfusion, that has proven to be very successful in halting and even reversing the MS progression. This treatment is not FDA approved, with a possible approval a decade or more away. HSCT is currently being recognized and tried in the USA, but already practiced worldwide. Unfortunately, Susan has progressed to far to meet the criteria for the trial in the U.S. She does not have 10 years to wait for approval. We are out of options she has no choice but to seek treatment outside of the United States. She has been accepted for treatment at the Clinica Ruiz in Puebla, Mexico and placed on a waiting list. The cost for the treatment alone is $54,000. Health Insurance will not cover the treatment or care she will need after. All funds will be out of pocket for my in-laws. Due to the severity of her symptoms she has not been able to work for years. We are asking everyone to help this beautiful mother, my children's grandmother, wife, sister and dear friend regain her quality of life that has been taken from her by this terrible disease.
The Matteson family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you for your generous donations.
