Hello. My name is Rachel Purdy (Ellerman). Wife of AJ Purdy and mother of two children, Ellie & AJ Jr. (ages 5 and 1). For nearly 8 years, I’ve been fighting a debilitating disease known as Multiple Sclerosis. Sadly, I’ve been progressively losing this fight.
MS is a condition where a person’s own immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord causing lesions which degrade nerve function and can cumulatively lead to loss of potentially every body function. Despite drug therapies and other lifestyle efforts, my condition has progressively worsened. In an alarmingly short amount of time, my MS continued to chip away at the freedoms we so often take for granted. I find myself struggling and can no longer chase or keep up with my own children. My ability to independently walk, stand, and be active in the lives of my family and friends is slipping through my fingers.
With the course my disease has taken, I need a more aggressive approach to treatment of MS. HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Therapy) is a “chemotherapy” and stem cell restoration procedure which currently is the MOST EFFECTIVE medical intervention with proven established curative results for autoimmune diseases like MS. It basically wipes a patient’s immune system clean and then rebuilds it from scratch with healthy stem cells.
While HSCT for autoimmune disease has been an approved procedure in many other countries, it is not yet currently approved in the United States. Although currently in clinical trials, it could be 10 years or longer before approval. It is therefore rarely covered by insurance in the U.S. Instead, we are forced to pay upfront and out of pocket for the entire cost plus any travel expenses, time off work, etc. Treatment costs around $55,000, NOT including any required travel or lodging. Given the nature of MS, waiting for HSCT to be approved in the U.S. could allow it to do even more devastating damage to my already fading health.
Time is crucial and with expenses of this magnitude, raising funds is key to obtaining – MY BEST CHANCE – at beating this terrible disease. In the coming months, my family and I hope to raise enough money to be able to move forward with HSCT treatment at the facility that can treat me soonest…
Please join us in this most challenging battle back to health. If you would like to make a donation to help ease the financial burden of this life changing treatment, contributions made through this website are tax deductible. If you would like to make a contribution anonymously or by check directly, it can be done through:
Any Peoples Savings Bank locations
Or by mail to: PSB 9414 MO-100, New Haven, MO 63068
Account Attn: Rachel Purdy MS Benefit
On behalf of my family, I want to thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any form of contribution you are able to give. Your love, support, and continuing prayers are appreciated greatly.
Anything helps, be it pocket change or prayers…
God bless…
