Hello, my name is Rudy, and this year has been an extremely traumatic and distressing time in my life and the life of my wife; our life has been turned upside down. I beg you to read this account of my heartbreaking Multiple Sclerosis journey.

My Diagnosis

In November 2020, my right breast felt numb for a few weeks, and I decided to visit the doctor. Agonising pain in my lower back and my symptoms only became worse; loss of balance and strength in my right arm and leg.

In the month following, I got hospitalized; I underwent one lumber puncture, 2 CT scans, 3 MRIs and three blood tests to try and find the cause of this vicious attack.

On the 8th of December 2020, I was formally and devastatingly diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

Since my diagnosis, my symptoms have multiplied rapidly, and new symptoms continue to appear regularly.

I’m only 42 years young. I endure daily severe symptoms, grapple with what used to be simple daily tasks and struggle with anxiety and worry about my future living with this rapidly progressing disease. Receiving and attempting to process the diagnosis of MS has been devastating. My wife and I are understandably terrified.

The Cure for MS

There is no cure. In Belgium, with varying outcomes, some treatments slow the progression of the disease, but there is no cure, and even with these treatments, my MS will continue to progress. In a currently unknown time frame, my body will deteriorate; my mobility and my sight and speech will become more impaired. You can only imagine the future for my wife and me.

Treatment to stop the progression of MS

I have spent endless hours researching and speaking to many people about MS. This culminated in my applying and, thankfully, being accepted for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) in Mexico.

While HSCT has been expanding in the last decade, it’s still only in the trial phase in Belgium, so I must leave the country to have any chance of halting my disease. I will spend 45 days under the care of well-trained and well-respected Hematologists and Neurologists at a dedicated Clinica Ruiz Centre. This clinic has successfully helped over 4000 patients to HALT their MS.

I got diagnosed with the (RRMS) type of MS; Mexico has an impressive 80-90% success rate in HALTING MS in its tracks.

HSCT works by taking and storing stem cells from my blood, blasting my body with chemotherapy to kill off the immune system before re-infusing the stem cells to build a new immune system, free from the memory of MS. The aim of wiping out and rebooting my immune system is to halt disease progression and prevent further relapses or attacks.

I understand the risks involved. However, in my desperate search for answers, I have spoken to medical professionals in the United Kingdom and many people who have had HSCT with remarkable results. I have heard many first-hand stories of their MS being either halted or partially reversed.

I will need to leave my beautiful wife behind for 30+ days to undergo HSCT. I must have 100,000+ € to pay for the treatment, outpatient accommodation and return flights. I am required to take a personal carer with me and will need to hire an experienced Registered Nurse, organized by the clinic, to support me through my grueling treatment.

The point of the personal carer is to provide around-the-clock care and support and help me make the long journey back home to Belgium.

I prepared myself to take the risk, and with an 80-90% success rate, the odds are definitely in my favor. I'm hanging on to the vision of once again being able to see a future where I'm a strong, vibrant and healthy human for my wife and family, a loving husband to my wife and a thoughtful, caring, generous and supportive friend & family member to all of my treasured loved ones. I want to play an active role in our lives and live my life as any young husband should.

My Heartfelt Plea and Hope

If you can, please find it in your heart to help me get to Mexico for this life-changing treatment. Please help me to live a life where I don’t have to fear what each new day may bring & where I can be the vibrant husband, husband and friend I was before in life changed so drastically overnight.

Whether you can donate or not, please share this link with as many people on as many platforms as possible to share my story.

If we are lucky enough to exceed the necessary target or have any funds left over, I will donate those funds to others in the same position as mine.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for reading and sharing my story - for me, my wife and family, my quality of life moving forward & my mission to make this a much easier process for others suffering from MS.

Thank you so very much; your help is so greatly appreciated and will make all the difference in the world,

Rudy

Update 1 september 2022;

1 September 2022, my symptoms worsened, and I suffered pain in my arms, hands, lower back and legs. My AUBAGIO medication doesn't work how it needs, and the Neurologist decided to change it to an OCREVUS INFUSE that I received the same day. This treatment is only to slow the progression of the disease, but there is no cure; even with these treatments, my MS will continue to progress. 

Update december 2022;

Went for a check-up with the Neurologist and heard some bad news again. My muscles in my right knee are weakening, done some tests for my EDSS score to know what is now at 3.4 and what is halfway through lifelong paralysis.