Half paralyzed and barely able to speak, Heather Rose smiles watching her two grandsons from a reclining chair.
The eldest, just shy of his second birthday, has learned to switch on the suction tube she needs dry her mouth because sheB次元官网网址檚 unable to swallow.
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis nine years ago, her health slowly deteriorated to the point that she can only stay in her Langford home with 24-hour care, much of which comes from family members.
But seeing what the controversial B次元官网网址渓iberation procedureB次元官网网址� has done for others in her position, the 52-year-old hopes she too can be set free from the grip MS holds on her life.
The prospect has her family-turned-caregivers taking on the new role of fundraisers. They need to raise over $20,000 for medical expenses and travel to a hospital in Tijuana, Mexico, one of the few places prepared to treat MS patients in such late stages of the disease.
The procedure, similar to angioplasty, opens blocked blood vessels to ease a condition present in most MS cases called chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency. ItB次元官网网址檚 been seen to relieve the paralysis and loss of physical sensations that come with MS.
Last month the federal government committed to covering the cost of clinical trails of the procedure in Canada, but HeatherB次元官网网址檚 health canB次元官网网址檛 wait for the procedure to be approved here.
B次元官网网址淪he needs to get there (to the clinic) as soon as possible. We would have liked to have her there yesterday,B次元官网网址� says HeatherB次元官网网址檚 sister Linda Talbot, calling the procedure one of the last hopes for treatment.
The family has stood by while Heather cycled through chemotherapy, drug treatments and holistic remedies to manage the disease.
B次元官网网址淭ried everything,B次元官网网址� Heather says, her voice comes out of her like a gurgle and she strains to repeat the words until her 26-year-old daughter Alicia Rose understands and says them back to her.
Alicia said sheB次元官网网址檇 be happy if the procedure allowed her mother even a few months with basic control over her own body B次元官网网址� off the feeding tube and able to speak clearly.
B次元官网网址淭o see her improve in any way, even if it doesnB次元官网网址檛 last, it will be worth it,B次元官网网址� says Alicia, holding her six-month-old son. B次元官网网址淪he loves her grandchildren, loves watching them, and wants to be able to get up and play with them.B次元官网网址�
Earlier this year, Langford resident Lesley Clarke fundraised $10,000 to receive the liberation procedure from a clinic in Seattle. She left in a wheelchair and came back walking and full of energy.
The family got advice from Clarke about how best to fundraise and hope to repeat her success with bottle drives and community events.
This Saturday, July 23, the Rose family is holding a barbecue and car wash in the parking lot of Rona from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with all the money going towards her treatment.
Later in the month theyB次元官网网址檒l have a silent auction, which theyB次元官网网址檙e looking for businesses to contribute items for.
Between events theyB次元官网网址檒l also be collecting bottles in some neighbourhoods, after delivering flyers to homes to let residents know when theyB次元官网网址檒l be coming around.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e hoping to have the money we need by September,B次元官网网址� Talbot says, noting Heather will aim to come out to events to thank everyone who donates. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e grateful for everyoneB次元官网网址檚 generosity. ...This procedure is going to make a huge difference in her life and ours, to have her back to normal again. We all want to see her walk again.B次元官网网址�
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