Jen Needs Your Help
Background:
My wife, Jen, was officially diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis in 2009. The disease began to progress quickly in 2012, leading up to several hospitalizations and IV treatments per year (7 in 2014). The symptom that affects her the most is fatigue/weakness, though she also experiences blurred/double vision as well as a host of other symptoms. At age 39 she owns a cane, walker, and wheelchair. She is unable to work at this point.
Updates (16)
March 3, 2018
It's been two years since the transplant and my Northwestern team says I am still in remission! The goal of treatment is to stop progression; any improvement in symptoms is frosting. I am no longer in a wheelchair and don't even need the cane anymore! We are incredibly THANKFUL, not just to God, but to each and every one who has supported us in any way.
I am now dealing with post effects of the medications used to treat me (mainly high dose steroids for many years) as well as from the MS. The old MS plaques cause symptoms to temporarily resurface when I am sick.
There is so much progress! Who would have thought that I could be driving again? Swimming with the kids? Homeschooling Maddie for a year??
Dr. Burt, at Northwestern, answered a piece of a puzzle - the serious infections I had last year were caused because my immune system had tanked again. They now have me on IVIG every four weeks to boost it. I reacted severely to the last one - it lasted almost two weeks. (Very bad timing as John had come down with another round of shingles as well as his Crohn's being active... but that's another story).
This is hard. Dramatic. We've lost loved ones bc of the drama. In the midst of it, we are blessed with loved ones that have joined or stuck by us with love and support. We are blessed with the four of us - all with various health issues - able to see joy and laughter a lot of the time. We are thankful for the progress that I've made!!
June 10, 2016
06/10/16: Laying in bed with a broken back. Insurance has denied paying for the surgery needed. We are using what is left in the HelpHOPELive fund but concerned there will not be enough for any complications or follow up for the stem cell transplant (which was successful, Praise God!!).
Photo Galleries (2)
Guestbook
April 10, 2015
our prayers are with you!
with love :)
nellie and ole
January 27, 2015
Jen & John, glad to see this effort & want to help. Please include Mark & I as helping with the spaghetti dinner.
Melissa Maxwell
January 26, 2015
We are all praying for you extra hard. Love ya guys lots!
The JK Meyer Family
