Kass Rockhold

Kass’ Quest for a Cure: Beating NMO with a Stem Cell Transplant

Kassandra Rockhold was diagnosed with MS over 30 years ago, a time when MS was difficult to diagnose. Her treatment and care followed that of many MS sufferers. None of the prescribed MS medications worked and her disease continued to progress. Last summer was a difficult one for Kass. Her pain became severe. After years of suffering in near silence, Kass admitted her pain to her daughters who worked hard to find treatment options.

Kass was recently accepted into a Clinical Trial for hematopoiectic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in Chicago at Northwestern University. Interestingly, while pursuing this treatment and ability to participate in the clinical trial, Kass discovered that she has NMO (Neuromyeletis Optica), not MS. NMO is a scary disease. Attacks in NMO are devastating, causing loss of vision in one or both eyes, paralysis of a limb or limbs (complete paralysis), loss of bladder function, and possible intubation. There are no FDA approved medications on the market to treat NMO.

NMO has taken away much from Kass. It has taken part of her sight, physical mobility, her ability to work and drive. Despite all of her losses, her only wish for this treatment is to stop the progression of this disease. Her dreams are simple. She wants to be an active participant in her own life and the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. To achieve this, Kass needs your help.

The clinical trial Kass has been accepted into is not funded by a pharmaceutical company so each patient is responsible for the cost of treatment. Kass does have Medicare which will cover much of the treatment cost. However, there are many out-of-pocket expenses that will be incurred including travel and lodging expenses for Kass and a caregiver to travel to and stay in Chicago for 8-10 weeks, co-pays for doctors, the hospital, and medications. These expenses will about $20,000. If Kass requires physical therapy or aftercare, expenses could be higher.

To help with the financial burden of Kass’ uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in her 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 Northwest Stem Cell Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider making a contribution by clicking Donate Now.

Thank you in advance for your care, support, and generosity.

Contact: Kass’ daughter, [email protected]