Anna Wise

My name is Anna Wise, and I am hoping to raise money to pay for uninsured medical expenses associated with my stem cell transplantation to halt the progression of and, more than likely, cure my Multiple Sclerosis. I was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis in December 2009, when I suddenly went blind in my right eye due to Optic Neuritis. I was started on first-line MS injectables (Copaxone and Avonex) and then an MS pill (Gilenya), all of which I failed.

At the time of my diagnosis, I was working as a full-time inpatient Physical Therapist. I tried so hard to keep working, but after needing to go on short-term disability multiple times due to about 10 relapses requiring IV steroids following my diagnosis, I had to go on full disability in October of 2011. I could no longer work due to left-sided weakness in my leg and arm, as well as painful spasticity and an additional 5 losses of eyesight.

In 2012, I began taking a second-line medication, on which I did well for 3 years but then failed this May, due to new enhancements on my brain MRI. So, now my options are limited to chemo or HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Therapy). HSCT is the transplantation of multipotent hematopoietic stem cells, derived from my own bone marrow after my immune system is basically “reset” by chemotherapy. Since the progression of my illness, I have extreme fatigue and spasticity, weakened muscles on the left and now beginning on the right side of my body, as well as numbness in the legs and cognitive/memory issues. I want my life back for my family, especially my two young boys, ages 11 and 9, and having this HSCT procedure would make this possible for me. I could be free of this MonSter forever. It’s an amazing opportunity with which I have been blessed.

I have been approved for treatment at Northwestern in Chicago, for which I will need about 2-3 months of living expenses for myself and a caregiver in Chicago. This is where your help is desperately needed!

To help offset such expenses, a fundraising campaign in Anna’s 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 transplant-related expenses only. If you would like to make a contribution, please click the DONATE NOW bar.