Lindsay Manion

As most of you know, in June 2009, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) a chronic, unpredictable and disabling autoimmune disease that damages the sheaths of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. MS can cause paralysis and even cause death. I have been blessed to not have many visible symptoms for much of my journey and even was able to have three more children (totaling six!) after my diagnosis. The last year, however, has been different. My walking is steadily deteriorating and my vision is drastically reduced due to optic neuritis. I have frequent tingling, numbness and loss of sensation in my hands, arms, legs and feet, and at times, experience extreme fatigue, foggy thinking and nerve pain.

Family and friends, I tell you all of this to explain why I need your help. I do not take this lightly; In fact, this is truly painful and incredibly humbling for me to come to you and ask for help. There is a treatment that has given me a tremendous amount of hope. Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) uses a person’s own adult stem cells and is showing amazing results freezing MS in its track for almost all recipients and reversing some symptoms for many. Not having this treatment is not an option. I am a wife to an amazing man and mommy to six beautiful children. I love them with all my heart and look forward to being able to run and play with them again soon.

I feel very blessed to have been accepted into the trial for HSCT in Chicago. My husband and I have spent countless hours in prayer and feel that God has led us to this exact place. While these transplants are life-saving, they are incredibly expensive. Amazingly, our insurance will cover the bulk of the procedure. However, we will have many out-of- pocket expenses including temporary relocation expenses to stay in Chicago for about two months and child care expenses during that time, post-transplant medications, deductibles, co-pays, lab fees and much more.

To help with the financial burden of my uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in my 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 Great Lakes Stem Cell Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Any contribution you could give would be greatly appreciated.

While we obviously need financial support, I also come to you to ask for your prayers. Like all medications and treatments, there are risks and I 100% believe in the power of prayer to lead us through the transplant and the lengthy recovery.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your prayers, support and generosity!!

Lindsay Manion