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MS Patient Detailing her Fight Online |
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Tuesday, 25 March 2008 |
Source: Leader-Post
A Regina woman's battle with a debilitating form of multiple sclerosis has gone online.
Joanne Woytiuk is currently receiving an intensive course of stem cell therapy in China for a form of MS that has left the 47-year-old barely able to speak, swallow or breathe.
An Internet blog details the family's experiences in Shenyang, China.
The posts -- written by Joanne, her husband, and her daughter -- detail all aspects of the China trip, from the gruelling journey to the medical facilities and cultural differences.
Woytiuk was diagnosed with an aggressive form of MS in 1998 and her condition continues to deteriorate rapidly. Talking to the Leader-Post last month, Woytiuk's daughter, Jamie, said the stem cell treatment is the family's only hope.
The treatment Woytiuk is receiving in China includes seven umbilical cord stem cell transplants, a bone marrow transplant and a range of other therapies, including massage, muscle stimulation and acupuncture.
Stem cell therapy is emerging as a state-of-the-art medical treatment for a wide range of problems, including diseases like MS and cerebral palsy, as well as brain and spinal chord injuries and strokes.
Stem cell treatment isn't currently available in Canada.
The Woytiuk family arrived in China on March 16, and will spend 40 days at the facility. None of the treatment is covered by Canadian medical insurance.
A March fundraiser raised more than $50,000 for the family.
Joanne's MS Blog can be found at http://stemcellschina.com/blog/joanne/.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 25 March 2008 )
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