Victoria Taylor

In March 2014, after two exhaustive years of searching for an answer, it was a relief to finally come to a conclusion about what was wrong with me – I was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). The illness has taken its toll on me and my body. On any given morning I might wake up and be unable to walk, see, speak, or use my arms and hands. Some days I experience double vision, exhaustion and numbness. Some days it’s a real deep, indefinable kind of weakness.I’ve been in and out of the hospital, which has left me unable to work at times.

There is no cure for MS, however, I have tried every conceivable approach to mitigate the symptoms, including holistic medicine, Chinese herbs, and various pharmaceutical interventions to no avail. After extensive research on where to turn next, I discovered a promising treatment in clinical trials at Northwestern Memorial Hospital under the direction of Dr. Richard Burt. The treatment involves the extraction of my own stem cells, followed by chemotherapy, after which these cells are re-introduced into my body to hopefully reverse the symptoms of MS. This stem cell transplant is my best hope to live – and thrive.

There is so much I want to do with my life and I will not let this diagnosis take away my dreams for the future. Dr. Burt has had incredible success rates and I want to be a part of that success. I am excited and grateful and ready to make the leap, but I cannot do it alone.

The treatment is incredibly expensive and requires me to stay in Chicago for at least two months. There is going to be flights, hotel bills, food, a caretaker and many other expenses insurance does not cover. Additionally, my insurance company has denied coverage for the transplant. The team at Northwestern has estimated that I will have $175,000 in out of pocket costs.

To help offset these 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 allowed by law, are held by Help Hope Live in the Southwest 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.

This treatment is my very best bet at a big, beautiful, glorious life and anything you can donate would be so deeply appreciated. On behalf of my spectacularly supportive family and myself — thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. You are indeed the best! I hope to dance with you at my wedding!

Love,

Tori