Anna Crum

The term blind-sided became personal for Anna when she became legally blind during her junior year of high school at the age of 16. While her friends were learning to drive, giggling about boys, and shopping for homecoming dresses, Anna was struggling to learn Braille and coming to grips with the idea that she was being propelled in a trajectory that would change her life forever. And so began her wrestling match with an unrelenting partner, relapsing and remitting MS.

Anna’s blindness lasted 10 months but her disease continued to weaken her body. By the end of her freshman year of college, another relapse left her dependent on a cane for mobility. It was at this point that Anna was introduced to a nurse specializing in Lifestyle Medicine Integration. Together they researched and applied both nutrition and functional exercise principles to improve her quality of life. Within 6 weeks, Anna was feeling better and was able to run a full 6 miles!

Anna has since taken responsibility for managing her health through nutrition, functional exercise measures, as well as the disease modifying therapies prescribed by her neurologist. She graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition, has recently completed her twelve month dietetic internship, and plans to take her state licensure exam this year. Anna’s passion is to become a dietitian to help others with autoimmune diseases regain quality of life, manage symptoms, and learn to thrive.

Because of her stellar care of herself, Anna has, in the past, been able to hold at bay the severely debilitating symptoms someone with such an aggressive form of MS should be experiencing. But due to the highly aggressive nature of her disease process and after struggling with this disease for over a decade, the lifestyle and medication approach to managing her MS is no longer working. We fear the time when her disease will overpower her efforts as her disease process has continued to relapse and progress through even some of the strongest medication options available.

Time is critical as Anna’s functionality is declining and her symptoms are hindering her day-to-day life. At 26 years old, Anna is living at home as she needs the extra care and financial support, is unable to work, and is struggling to reach the finish line of obtaining her dietitian license. Anna struggles with vision, mobility, bladder and bowel dysfunction, nerve pain, weakness, cognitive difficulties, severe fatigue, and muscle spasticity that is restricting mobility in her arms. There are days when Anna can’t drive, can’t walk, or can’t get out of bed. On a good day, she cannot do anything more strenuous than walking for about 20 minutes and she uses a cane or rollator at times to compensate for muscle weakness and balance.

Anna’s final hope is HSCT, a hematopoetic stem cell transplant that will give her a new immune system and a new lease on life. Studies of this procedure have yielded outstanding results of no further disease activity in 87% of MS patients at the 5-year post transplant mark with a mortality rate of less than 1% (a significantly lower mortality and side effect risk than the medication Anna is currently on). But this procedure is very expensive. The total cost can range between $50,000 – $120,000 depending on location. Fortunately Anna has already been accepted for treatment in speciality clinics in both Russia and Mexico.

The cost of HSCT:
-Mexico = $55,000 + travel expenses + caregiver expenses (local outpatient program) + post transplant care
-Russia is $45,000 + travel expenses + post transplant care

We are trying to raise enough money to cover the transplant expenses and after care expenses for Anna. There will be follow up appointments, additional required chemo infusions, and therapies that are not covered by insurance plus the time it will take for Anna to fully heal to be able to work. It usually takes patients an average of about 2-3 months or so post transplant before returning to work, with the recovery rate from the chemotherapy ranging from several months to one year.

It is not easy for Anna to ask for help but she doesn’t have a choice. Living a normal life without this treatment is not an option for Anna. Without this transplant, Anna will only continue to decline and her quality of life will decrease even further. She will continue to lose her ability to walk, her chance at a successful career, and/or her ability to care for herself. She could even stay at a point where she is unable to get out of bed. That is not a chance we are willing to take! Although this has been a difficult time in Anna’s life, she remains optimistic and focused on a bright future. Let’s help her be able to have one!

Our target date to reach our goal is July 1, 2016. Anna is on the waiting list for both Mexico and Russia. Russia has expressed they will be trying to accommodate Anna late this year and Mexico, with their increased patient capacity, has minimized wait time to under a year. Anna will receive treatment at the location that offers the earliest availability. Anna’s transplant schedule could also be offered earlier than expected due to patient cancellations.

You can help by sharing Anna’s story or by making a tax-deductible donation to Help Hope Live in honor of Anna.

Thank you for your generosity!