Dawn Freney

In 2009, my loving wife, Dawn Freney was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). She had not been feeling well for a long time but the doctors were unable to give her a definitive diagnosis. At the time, we didn’t understand what that meant but knew our lives had changed.

Dawn (44) is a loving wife, mother to our six children, ages 11 to 19, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin and good friend to many. Dawn graduated Bishop Shanahan and Widener University, and is a long term member of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish. She is working when she is able and tries to remain active in the community as much as she can. Our children are attending Widener University, St. Joseph’s University, Devon Prep, Archmere Academy, Stetson Middle School. You may also know her from the sidelines at our daughter’s volleyball tournaments or other activities at their various schools.

For many years, standard MS medications had worked well enough so that Dawn could manage her daily activities despite extreme fatigue. Over the past few years, her health has declined and is no longer responding to pharmaceutical therapies. Dawn has struggled through 5 major relapses in the past two years and now she needs a more aggressive form of treatment.

Fortunately, Dawn has been approved for a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), which is currently in a phase III trial in Chicago at Northwestern University Medical Center. It should be noted that HSCT does not involve embryonic stem cells in any manner. However, at this time as a FDA trial, this therapy is not covered by health insurance and is quite expensive, possibly more than $200,000. We are still in the process of trying to get the treatment approved for payment by the insurance company but regardless will still have very high out of pocket expenses. Additionally, we will incur travel and relocation expenses at the time of the transplant.

To help with financial burden of Dawn’s uninsured medical 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 Mid-Atlantic Stem Cell Transplant Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only. To make a donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Donate Now button.

On behalf of Dawn, myself and our children, thank you for your kindness, generosity, support and prayers Keep an eye on Dawn’s campaign page because we will be planning some fundraising events soon and posting updates regularly.

Bob Freney
732-485-8768
[email protected]