Mark Folsom

Mark Needs Your Help!

Mark Folsom, a resident of Mount Airy, Maryland, desperately needs your help. Mark’s life took an unexpected turn when in January of 2014, he was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis, or PPMS. PPMS is the most aggressive form of multiple sclerosis, and Mark’s condition continues to deteriorate. Mark has continued to remain as active as possible, but the PPMS is taking its toll. He has spent many years involved in his local community; as a member of his church choir, a judge and referee for the community dive team, an assistant soccer coach, and a leader for “Christmas in April” through his employer. Mark even spent a summer donating his carpentry skills to help remodel a portion of his church, and was always available to help out with last minute needs of Vacation Bible School. Unfortunately, due to his symptoms, like extreme fatigue and pain, Mark is no longer able to volunteer in the way that he once enjoyed. Despite his condition and suffering, Mark never complains, but is now at a point where his MS keeps him from enjoying the simpler things in his life. Taking a walk, maintaining relationships, and simple activities of daily living are becoming much more difficult. Mark knows that his disease will eventually rob him of his ability to enjoy life and spend quality time with his family.

Through extensive research, Mark found a promising treatment to the multiple sclerosis community, known as a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant or HSCT. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society defines HSCT as a way to “reboot” the immune system, which is responsible for damaging the brain and spinal cord in MS. Hematopoietic stem cells, which are derived from a person’s own autologous bone marrow or blood, are collected and stored, and the rest of the individual’s immune cells are depleted by chemotherapy. These stored cells are then reintroduced to the body, migrate to the bone marrow and over time produce new white blood cells. Eventually they repopulate the body with immune cells, thus halting the disease and in some individuals, reversing the damage.

HSCT clinical trials for MS began in the U.S. in 2000, and are still ongoing. The treatment is estimated to be approved here in the US by the FDA by about 2022, and has been approved in other parts of the world, widely used for cancer patients. After extensive research and reading hundreds of personal stories, the best treatment option for Mark is with Dr. Guillermo Ruiz-Arguelles, M.D. the general director of The Hematology and Internal Medicine Center at Clinica Ruiz de Puebla. Dr. Ruiz was chosen as a 2011 Mayo Clinic Distinguished Alumnus, and was selected for a mastership in the American College of Physicians, given to individuals with “integrity, positions of honor, eminence in practice or in medical research, or other attainments in science or in the art of medicine”.

Unfortunately, Mark’s health insurance will not cover the out-of-pocket cost of this procedure, upwards of $70,000 including treatment, airfare and medications needed for one year upon returning home. Mark cannot afford this promising therapy on his own, and he needs your support. To help with the financial burden of Mark’s uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in his 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. Family and friends of Mark Folsom are raising money to pay for uninsured medical expenses associated with transplantation.

To make a donation to this fundraising campaign, please click on the yellow DONATE NOW button.

Thank you for your prayers, support and generosity. Keep an eye on Mark’s campaign page as we will be posting updates regularly.

With much gratitude,

Mark’s loving family

*If you would like to know more about HSCT, Dr. Ruiz, or the facility, please contact Mark’s wife, Mary Folsom at [email protected] or 240-994-4729.