Brenda Reichhold

Brenda Reichhold has been suffering from a severe and debilitating form of Multiple Sclerosis and she desperately needs your help! Multiple Sclerosis or MS is a disabling disease that affects the central nervous system. The immune system attacks the protective myelin sheath that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. Eventually, the disease can cause the nerves to deteriorate or become permanently damaged, and Brenda is now suffering from the devastating effects of her MS. Brenda was diagnosed in the Winter of 2006 and by 2008 she started having trouble walking. Over the past three years her condition has progressively declined and she now relies on a wheelchair or her scooter fulltime in order to get around. Now unable to walk or even use her hands, Brenda has exhausted conventional medications and treatments, and is ready to try something different to treat her MS. With the support of her physician and her loving family, Brenda has learned of a promising treatment for MS known as stem cell therapy or HSCT. With this treatment, Brenda feels there is hope to improve her mobility, halt her symptoms, and stop MS in its tracks!

Brenda has lived in Mariposa, California since 1992 and worked hard to raise three of her four children, James, Jaden and Cristen. She went back to school after Jaden was born and earned her degree in biological science while she held a job at the post office and local restaurants trying to make ends meet. Brenda wants to spend time with her adorable grandchildren, and looks forward to feeling better and having more energy so she can spend more time with them. Since her MS has progressed, Brenda is unable to work a job, but she looks forward to going back to work after her stem cell therapy treatments and gaining back her independence once again.

Stem cell therapy is expected to help Brenda, but unfortunately the cost of this treatment is not covered by her health insurance. Brenda will be faced very high out-of-pocket expenses for the cost of treatment, as well as travel and lodging fees to and from Southern California where she will have her upcoming therapy. These expenses are expected to cost upwards of $20,000 and Brenda is unable to afford the cost of treatment on her own. This is where she is asking for your support.

To help with this financial burden, a fundraising campaign in Brenda’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, 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, are held by HelpHOPELive in the SouthWest Stem Cell Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Your contribution is greatly appreciated. Brenda has chosen to fundraise with HelpHOPELive in part because HelpHOPELive assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for donors. Donors can be sure that funds donated will be used only to pay or reimburse medically-related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the yellow DONATE NOW button. For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800.642.8399.Thank you ahead of time for your generosity, prayers and support. Any donation amount, no matter how big or how small is one step closer to a brighter future for Brenda.

Gratefully,

Kerrylee Davies, Brenda’s longtime best friend, 209.628.7025