A FORMER Coundon Court pupil who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis is hoping to raise enough funds for life-changing treatment.
Damien Scott was diagnosed with MS at the age of 35 and has since struggled to cope living with the disease that attacks the central nervous system.
The 47-year-old said it was a total shock when he was first diagnosed after first noticing something was wrong when bouncing off the rails on a treadmill.
As the effects of MS gradually got worse, Damien had to seek treatment and now injects a disease-modifying drug every week.
Not willing to back down though, Damien is hoping to raise £25,000 for ground-breaking treatment in Mexico that could stop the progression of the disease – and possibly reverse some or all of the damage caused.
Damien is pinning his hopes on the revolutionary treatment, named Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Treatment (HSCT), as his best option available.
The aim of the treatment is to limit the progression of the disease which is affecting his ability to live normally and independently.
If successful, the HSCT treatment sees the faulty immune system completely removed and the stored stem cells are put back into the patients’ blood stream in an attempt to reboot the immune system.
In the UK, HSCT is currently branded as a ‘trial’ – yet there are clinics in Mexico, Russia, Israel and the Philippines, that have proven this treatment is highly effective.
Damien said: “If this treatment works the relief will be enormous.
“I live on my own, my parents aren’t getting any younger, so my independence means a lot to me.
“My mobility is greatly compromised at the moment and this will only degenerate more over time.
“If this treatment only halts the progression that will be good enough for me, the repair of any damage will be a bonus.
“I want to live, not to just exist.”
