Peter Mihelis

I Need Your Help!

My name is Peter Mihelis and I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in January of 2014. It was like any other day. I was driving home from work when, suddenly, I couldn’t move my arm. I went straight to the hospital where a series of tests confirmed that I had MS with lesions in my brain and spinal cord. Hearing this devastating news, I was just frozen to my spot.

Doctors immediately started me on steroids over the next three days. Then I began the first-line MS medicine, Avonex. Eighteen long months later it was switched to Plegridy in hopes it would work better. Neither treatment worked. Over time, my right leg started to weaken, along with the onset of tremors, spasticity, sleeplessness, anxiety, and endless fatigue. This past December, my MRI revealed new lesions in my brain stem which, should I have another relapse, could result in paralysis.

At the time of my diagnosis, I was working as a home inspector. I fought through my limitations and work as long as I can but, eventually, I had to file for permanent disability. I could no longer move the way I used to because, over time, MS takes over. This has had a major impact in my ability to maintain and sustain a steady income.

After endlessly searching for various treatments, I discovered Dr. Burt at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago. On February 1st, I was accepted for a treatment called HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Therapy) in which chemotherapy is used to reset your immune system, followed by a stem cell transplant from my own bone marrow to boost recovery. This is the only treatment that can halt the progression of this disease.

HSCT is my last hope in regaining my independence and my life. However, this proven therapy comes at a cost that I cannot afford on my own. Medicare has already pre-approved the surgery, yet they do not cover everything. Along with my co-payment responsibility, I will need approximately 2-3 months of living expenses for myself and a caregiver while in Chicago. Dr. Burt and his staff would like me to begin treatment in May. This is where your help and support is desperately needed.

To help offset uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in my 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 of the law, are held by Help Hope Live in the New York Stem Cell Transplant Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only.

For credit card contributions, please click the yellow Donate Now button.

Thank you for your kind consideration. Please know that your contribution counts!

With gratitude,
Peter Mihelis
845-421-2588