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Ruth Furtado is a 55-year-old artist and resident of East Providence, RI. In 1999, when she noticed numbness in her toes, she just chalked it up to tying her sneakers too tight. What she could not have imagined was that it was the beginning of her battle with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). By February of 2010, she was hospitalized with a flare up of her MS symptoms which left her permanently disabled.
Prior to Ruth’s diagnosis, this once vibrant woman was a graphic designer for eight years. Since then, she discovered the endless possibilities for creativity in Photoshop. Ruth describes herself as a self-taught artist who started by experimenting with fractal art, using a multitude of different brushes and gradient effects to create some extraordinary, otherworldly artwork. She feels profoundly blessed to have relearned how to create these inspiring images by using her left hand since she no longer has full function of her right hand. Despite any challenges MS has created, Ruth’s motto is to “adapt to the changes, find a new way to do things when you can no longer do them the way you used to”. She will NOT let this disease define her and will fight every day to take back what has been taken from her.
While striving to adapt, Ruth has done research on different treatment options and learned about a procedure being done at a facility in San Diego, CA called StemGenex. It is a stem cell treatment that uses stem cells from Ruth’s own body extracted from adipose or fat cells. It is designed to target the myelin sheath (protects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord) by introducing adult mesenchymal stem cells past the blood brain barrier so they may differentiate into and repair the myelin sheath nerve cells. This process is called remyelination. Since MS is an auto-immune condition, adipose (fat tissue) derived mesenchymal stem cells have the ability to repair the immune system; keeping it from attacking itself. This process is referred to as immunomodulation. Through demyelination and immunomodulation, the hope is to work toward improving the quality of lives of patients dealing with MS. The treatment itself, hotel stay, airfare and food during her stay will total close to $25,000. This is a financial challenge Ruth cannot face alone. She needs your help.
To help with the financial burden of Ruth Furtado’s uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in her honor has been established with Help Hope Live, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law, are held by Help Hope Live in the Northeast Stem Cell Transplant Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for medically-related expenses only. Please consider a contribution.
For credit card contributions, please click the yellow Donate Now button.
Ruth has worked daily to regain strength on her right side. Her goal is to someday graduate from a walker to using a cane, then walking without assistance and maybe someday running on her own! Thank you for your support.
With sincere gratitude,
Joan Furtado (Ruth’s mother)
I know it's been a while since my last update. It's been a roller coaster ride! I was plagued with severe lower back pain for much of 2017. MRI revealed stenosis and a bulging disc in my lower lumbar region. PT and meds proved to be mostly ineffective. I was fortunate enough to spend the summer in SoCal with Dixon and his family where I was wonderfully pampered, something to which I'm completely unaccustomed! On January 21st of this year, I fell and broke both bones in my lower right leg as well as my ankle. Surgery was done and the breaks are pretty much healed now. Also, 3 weeks of bedrest seems to have relieved my back pain! A total of 8 weeks of rehab and I was home again albeit in a wheelchair but home. 3 more months of PT and OT and I'm mostly back to using my walker again but the wheelchair is still necessary sometimes and I can no longer drive my SUV. Unfortunately, the numbness and weakness from MS has worsened and spread and the fatigue is at times overwhelming... now I hope and pray for a miracle...
March 7, 2017
Thank you to my friend Judi who generously contributed to my fundraising efforts! Judi also ha MS and has been receiving Stem Cell treatments for several years so she knows the benefits...
Well, it's been a while since I posted an update but here it is! First I must thank those who have helped me by donating since my last update:
Peter Weiss, Bruce Zarembka, Pete Silva and Paul Shea who are friends of my brother Paul...
Paula Frias, my friend from childhood with whom I reconnected last year...
Janice Blaise, a friend of my cousin JoAnne Aguiar...
and 2 more Anonymous donors, thank you whoever you are!
The support and generosity you've shown is greatly appreciated!
Thank you to Christine Brinkmann for her donation bringing the total raised thus far to $500! Chris, you are a sweetheart! I am so very grateful to everyone who has contributed, it was such a pleasant surprise to log on today and see that we've reached this milestone amount!
Thank you to those who have donated so far:
My brother Paul who got the ball rolling, my cousin Rick Aguilar, my friends Chris Largey and Carole Vierra Morris and to the kind and generous soul known as Anonymous, I am so very grateful to you all for your support and generosity! <3
This is a selection of artwork I created using Photoshop, a photo-editing software package from Adobe Systems, and a technique that mimics fractally generated art.The music accompanying this is a beautiful piece called, "Ancient Memories" performed by the late Derek Bell. Mr. Bell was the harper for the Irish group, The Chieftains. This piece can be found on a wonderful collection of harp music called, "Harpestry." It features harp music from a wide variety of styles performed by harpists from a wide variety of backgrounds and musical traditions.
This is a human interest piece the local news station did back in 2011. I invite you to visit the Facebook page, “A Host of Angels,” www.facebook.com/ahostofangels for a daily dose of beauty and inspiration! There, I post an angel image paired with an inspirational quote and my own reflections on that quote. You can enjoy this page even if you don’t have a Facebook page of your own. If you do have a page on Facebook, click on “like” at the top of the page and these beautiful images and inspirations will appear on your wall as they are posted. I welcome you to share your thoughts there as well!
I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS in 2001. In February of 2010, I had the first of 2 relapses that left me hospitalized and with permanent disability. I needed a walker to get around at all. I worked hard to build my strength, balance and stamina and adapted my diet, cutting out dairy, grains, refined sugar, legumes and all processed foods and increasing veggies (especially leafy greens) fresh fruit and grass-fed meats. I also started making health and beauty products like shampoo, body wash and toothpaste as well as household cleaning products using things like castile soap, coconut oil, baking soda, vinegar and bentonite clay. I've basically substituted chemically based manufactured products in my life with homemade alternatives using non-chemical ingredients.
I can sometimes get around my apartment without any assistance or with the use of a cane but when I go out anywhere that requires walking I still use my rollator. Fatigue is still a problem and my right hand and arm are almost completely numb but I've learned to adapt. I haven't been able to run at all since January of 2010. I decided to try back in early March of 2014 and found I could run a few steps with my walker. It was a few steps at first but I kept at it, practicing in the hall of my apartment building and built up to where I am now. I actually ran 7 times this day, Easter Sunday 2014 with my great-niece Aniya running beside me and my family cheering me on.
8/23/16
My disability has since progressed but I'm determined to get back to where I can run again. After all, with hard work and perseverance plus some faith, hope and the love of family and friends, ANYTHING is possible! Next challenge, running without the walker, then... ROLLERBLADING!
MS, get out of my way, I have things to do!
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HI sweet facebook friend! It's not much but I pitched in $25. All the best to you. Be well <3 :)
Chris Largey
I hope the new treatment helps you feel better and relieves some pain...
Love
Rick
Rick Aguiar
Make checks payable to:
Help Hope Live
Note in memo:
In honor of Ruth Furtado
Mail to:
Help Hope Live
2 Radnor Corporate Center
Suite 100
100 Matsonford Road
Radnor, PA 19087
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