#hope

Revisit insights from Jacob’s strategies to navigate the journey to HSCT (S7 replay)

November 30, 2022 — Leave a comment

Warrior: Jacob Kinch
AI Multiple Sclerosis
HSCT: October, 2020
Superpower: new perspective

Where do you find glimmers of hope? Do you recognize the double-edged sword of multiple sclerosis? 

Jacob shares so many relatable aspects of his experience with multiple sclerosis, including frustration with doctors, questionable approaches and decisions around treatment, and challenges with paying for expensive medications. Despite his best efforts with disease modifying therapies, the side effects that Jacob experienced made it dark and difficult to live with MS. Once he found HSCT and began researching, he found a glimmer of hope that was strengthened after he connected with someone at Clinica Ruiz to address his pages of questions. 

Tune in and learn more about Jacob’s experience at Clinica Ruiz, navigating travel and processing other peoples’ judgments and skepticism, including doctors’ and neurologists’ opinions. Be sure to visit our website, HSCTWarriorsPodcast.org where you can find notes from today’s episode, submit ideas or feedback, or connect with HSCT Warriors, Inc. and schedule time to “Talk with a Warrior”, find the latest research and resources, or explore the world map. Special thanks to musical genius Billy Alletzhauser for sharing his superpowers to produce the soundtrack, and engineer the audio to make this podcast possible. You can find us both when you subscribe on SoundCloud, iTunes or wherever you find podcasts.

It has been great to connect with Warriors worldwide, so please reach out if you’re interested in sharing your story. We would love to learn how the podcast has helped your journey with autoimmune disease so if you could take a moment, leave us a comment on instagram or share feedback on our website. We hope you’ll tune in next Wednesday for another episode, highlighting another HSCT Warrior. Until then, be a snowflake and embrace your superpowers.  Be kind.  Be well.

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Jen Stansbury Koenig and the producers disclaim medical influence and responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information contained herein. If you think you have a medical problem, please contact a licensed physician.

Meet Eric to learn from his quick pursuit of HSCT after diagnosis despite the pandemic (Ep. 79)

April 6, 2022 — Leave a comment

Warrior: Eric Saperstein
AI: Multiple Sclerosis
HSCT: July 5, 2020
Superpower: Speed (to HSCT)

Are you someone to live in the present, or anticipate the future? How do you know what’s going to help you? Where do you find hope?

After experiencing trigeminal neuralgia and receiving an MRI that diagnosed him with MS, Eric consulted with two different neurologists. Rather than discussing the efficacy of his options, one doctor encouraged him to decide which medicine to try based on a bag of marketing materials, and another doctor suggested he choose based on whether he wanted to take a pill or give himself injections. Despite knowing several people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and consulting with a family friend who is a neurologist, Eric only learned about HSCT by conducting his own research. 

Tune in to learn more about when and where Eric chose to pursue HSCT, the resources available to him during treatment, including a cure for the 9 hour bout of hiccups that he experienced as a side-effect of the chemo, and how he’s faring post-HSCT as he commits to supporting his gut health by eliminating mycotoxins. Please forgive the ‘ghost in the machine’ interference throughout this episode…  

Be sure to visit our website, HSCTWarriorsPodcast.org where you can find notes from today’s episode, submit ideas or feedback, or connect with HSCT Warriors, Inc. and schedule time to “Talk with a Warrior”, find the latest research and resources, or explore the world map. Special thanks to musical genius Billy Alletzhauser for sharing his superpowers to produce the soundtrack, and engineer the audio to make this podcast possible. You can find us both when you subscribe on SoundCloud, iTunes or wherever you find podcasts.

It has been great to connect with Warriors worldwide, so please reach out if you’re interested in sharing your story. We would love to learn how the podcast has helped your journey with autoimmune disease so if you could take a moment, leave us a comment on instagram or share feedback on our website. We hope you’ll tune in next Wednesday for another episode, highlighting another HSCT Warrior. Until then, be a snowflake and embrace your superpowers.  Be kind.  Be well.

_________________________________

Jen Stansbury Koenig and the producers disclaim medical influence and responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information contained herein. If you think you have a medical problem, please contact a licensed physician.

Resources:
HSCT and Cellular Therapies for Autoimmune Diseases (Burt, Farge, Ruiz, Saccardi & Snowden, 2022).

Learn more from Jan-Marie along her recovery rollercoaster and find hope (Ep. 78)

March 30, 2022 — Leave a comment

Warrior: Jan-Marie
AI: Multiple Sclerosis
HSCT: June 16, 2020
Superpower: Hope

What do you think is happening? How do you advocate for yourself when seeking answers?

Nearly immediately after HSCT, Jan-Marie experienced significant improvements with her balance and walking and knew in her heart that HSCT worked to halt progression. So, when Jan-Marie began experiencing new challenges, pain, and neurological issues at just 5 months post-HSCT, she became very determined to find answers. Although her doctors insisted that the multiple sclerosis had returned, Jan-Marie had a feeling that what she was experiencing was in fact very different from multiple sclerosis. Tune in to learn more about the variety of options that Jan-Marie pursued, from a top-off of chemo to spending a month in the hospital for nearly every test imaginable, including two MRIs that showed no MS-related activity.

Be sure to visit our website, HSCTWarriorsPodcast.org where you can find notes from today’s episode, submit ideas or feedback, or connect with HSCT Warriors, Inc. and schedule time to “Talk with a Warrior”, find the latest research and resources, or explore the world map. Special thanks to musical genius Billy Alletzhauser for sharing his superpowers to produce the soundtrack, and engineer the audio to make this podcast possible. You can find us both when you subscribe on SoundCloud, iTunes or wherever you find podcasts.

It has been great to connect with Warriors worldwide, so please reach out if you’re interested in sharing your story. We would love to learn how the podcast has helped your journey with autoimmune disease so if you could take a moment, leave us a comment on instagram or share feedback on our website. We hope you’ll tune in next Wednesday for another episode, highlighting another HSCT Warrior. Until then, be a snowflake and embrace your superpowers.  Be kind.  Be well.

_________________________________

Jen Stansbury Koenig and the producers disclaim medical influence and responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information contained herein. If you think you have a medical problem, please contact a licensed physician.

Resources:

Hydrafil Feasibility Study by RegelTec

Talk to a Warrior at HSCTWarriors.org

Revisit our check-in along Katie’s Hope journey and find renewed confidence (S3 replay)

August 18, 2021 — Leave a comment

Warrior: Katie Hominsky
Autoimmune: Multiple Sclerosis
HSCT: Northwestern Memorial, Chicago
Superpower: Confidence

Who has your back when things get tough? When facing struggles in life, where do you seek support? How do you find hope and understanding?

Tune in for this post-HSCT update from Katie, our first Hopeful interviewed about her Hope Journey to HSCT and hear more about her recovery rollercoaster. She offers updates on her fundraising initiatives and support strategies, and shares more about her ongoing Hope Journey. 

Be sure to visit our website, HSCTWarriorsPodcast.org where you can find notes from today’s episode, submit ideas or feedback, or connect with HSCT Warriors, Inc. to “Talk with a Warrior”, find the latest research and resources, or explore the world map. Special thanks to musical genius Billy Alletzhauser for sharing his superpowers to produce the soundtrack, and engineer the audio to make this podcast possible. You can find us both when you subscribe on SoundCloud, iTunes or wherever you find your podcasts.

It has been great to connect with Warriors worldwide so reach out if you’re interested in sharing your story. We would definitely love to learn how the podcast has helped your journey with autoimmune disease… if you could take a moment to share your story, leave us a comment on instagram or share feedback on our website. We hope you’ll tune in next Wednesday for another episode, highlighting another HSCT Warrior. Until then, be a snowflake and embrace your superpowers.  Be kind.  Be well.

_________________________________

Jen Stansbury Koenig and the producers disclaim medical influence and responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information contained herein. If you think you have a medical problem, please contact a licensed physician immediately.

Revisit all the ways Marlo strengthened her preparedness for HSCT (S2 replay)

June 2, 2021 — Leave a comment

Warrior: Marlo Kalb
Snowflake: Multiple Sclerosis and Lyme Disease
HSCT: anticipated by June, 2019
Superpower: body-knowing

How does one come to terms with the brutality of multiple sclerosis? How many disease modifying drugs have caused you significant complications? Do you know what it feels like to live a life without a chronic disease?

After seeing too many doctors that wouldn’t listen, receiving a diagnosis at 13 years young, and spending eleven years trying nearly every disease modifying treatment available, Marlo developed inflammation everywhere in her body that led to countless additional potential diagnoses. Having very few memories of her childhood or of positive experiences with doctors, Marlo has persevered with an admirable, courageous, and brilliant sense of hope for the future.

Tune in to hear more about Marlo’s journey with multiple sclerosis and how she is preparing her mind and body to become the first MS patient treated with HSCT according to the BEAM protocol (currently under special executive review) at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts.

Be sure to visit our website, HSCTWarriorsPodcast.com where you can find notes from today’s episode, submit ideas or feedback, or connect with HSCT Warriors, Inc. and schedule time to “Talk with a Warrior”, find the latest research and resources, or explore the world map. Special thanks to musical genius Billy Alletzhauser for sharing his superpowers to produce the soundtrack, and engineer the audio to make this podcast possible. You can find us both when you subscribe on SoundCloud, iTunes or wherever you find your podcasts.

It has been great to connect with Warriors worldwide, so please reach out if you’re interested in sharing your story. We would love to learn how the podcast has helped your journey with autoimmune disease so if you could take a moment, leave us a comment on instagram or share feedback on our website. We hope you’ll tune in next Wednesday for another episode, highlighting another HSCT Warrior. Until then, be a snowflake and embrace your superpowers.  Be kind.  Be well.

_________________________________

Jen Stansbury Koenig and the producers disclaim medical influence and responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information contained herein. If you think you have a medical problem, please contact a licensed physician.

Resources noted: 
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts
Clinica Ruiz, Puebla
Aa Maximov Hospital, Moscow Russia

Revisit the journey of Chris and relate to challenges of CIDP diagnosis by exclusion (S2 replay)

May 12, 2021 — Leave a comment

Warrior: Chris Masters
Snowflake: CIDP (chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy)
HSCT: August 14, 2018
Superpower: ability to walk again

Have you ever lingered on the brink of life? Or wondered why diagnosis by exclusion takes so long? How much energy would you have to spin your wheels?

Meet Chris, a physical therapist familiar with physical movement, injury, and the understanding that when numbness, tingling, and pain consumed his abilities to move, he needed to fast-track some answers. Despite the shuffle from doctor to doctor without diagnosis, once his body completely shut down while driving to work, Chris and his wife knew they had to find their own answers and fully adorn the role of advocacy.

Tune in to learn more about the back-and-forth Chris experienced along his path to HSCT, the concern for others struggling to find the right diagnosis, the importance of self-advocacy, and the spirit of hope in sharing awareness.

Be sure to visit our website, HSCTWarriorsPodcast.com where you can find notes from today’s episode, submit ideas or feedback, and access the latest HSCT research and resources. Special thanks to musical genius Billy Alletzhauser for sharing his superpowers to create the soundtrack, edit, and produce the audio to make this podcast possible. You can find us both when you subscribe on SoundCloud, iTunes or wherever you find your podcasts.

Take a moment to leave a review because your feedback will help to develop even better episodes, and your ratings will help other people find the show. Tune in next Wednesday for a brand new episode, highlighting another HSCT Warrior. Until then, be a snowflake and embrace your superpowers. Be kind. Be well.

Resources noted:
GBS/CIDP Foundation: https://www.gbs-cidp.org/

Revisit the hope in possibility with John along his journey to HSCT (replay from S4)

October 28, 2020 — Leave a comment

Warrior: John Taylor
AI: Multiple Sclerosis
HSCT: September 2019 at Northwestern
Superpower: Appreciation

Have you ever tried to describe the sensation of severe pain, despite knowing that you’re also physically numb? When side effects and risk outweigh the good, how do you make a choice? How do you feel when selected for the chance of a lifetime, knowing others have to miss that chance?

After years of living with symptoms considered insignificant, John finally received a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in 2010 from his third opinion doctor. While the first disease modifying therapy seemed to work for nearly a decade, just as John began to fear a future with little hope about his new normal, his wife stumbled upon HSCT in time for him to be treated in Dr. Burt’s last cohort before sabbatical.

Tune in and learn more about John’s experience with loss of balance, shooting pains, burning sensations, optic neuritis, and other symptoms that he experienced with multiple sclerosis. 

Be sure to visit our website, HSCTWarriorsPodcast.com where you can find notes from today’s episode, submit ideas or feedback, or connect with HSCT Warriors, Inc. and schedule time to “Talk with a Warrior”, find the latest research and resources, or explore the world map. Special thanks to musical genius Billy Alletzhauser for sharing his superpowers to produce the soundtrack, and engineer the audio to make this podcast possible. You can find us both when you subscribe on SoundCloud, iTunes or wherever you find your podcasts.

It has been great to connect with Warriors worldwide, so please reach out if you’re interested in sharing your story. We would love to learn how the podcast has helped your journey with autoimmune disease so if you could take a moment, leave us a comment on instagram or share feedback on our website. We hope you’ll tune in next Wednesday for another episode, highlighting another HSCT Warrior. Until then, be a snowflake and embrace your superpowers.  Be kind.  Be well.

_________________________________

Jen Stansbury Koenig and the producers disclaim medical influence and responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information contained herein. If you think you have a medical problem, please contact a licensed physician immediately.

Resources: 
Patient care manuals for post-HSCT
Research articles

Support HSCT hopeful DeWayne, as he becomes the first autoimmune transplant in Cleveland (Ep. 52)

September 9, 2020 — Leave a comment

Warrior: DeWayne Durr
AI: Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
HSCT: scheduled for September, 2020
Superpower: prayer and understanding

How comfortable are you with difficult or impossible situations? How direct are you about the care you receive from your doctors? When faced with the chance of being randomly assigned to receive HSCT, would you feel conflicted?

After DeWayne researched the disease modifying therapies available to him, he chose to clean up his diet and forgo drugs, as he had also researched HSCT and barely missed the chance to be treated by Dr. Burt in Chicago before he closed the clinical trial. Tune in to hear more about how DeWayne advocated for consideration to be considered for the BEAT-MS trial at the Cleveland Clinic and the winding path to get there despite other doctors’ opinions, the details of participating in the clinical trial, and COVID. 

Tune in and learn more about how DeWayne managed to secure insurance coverage and approval to be the first patient to be treated at Cleveland Clinic off-trial for multiple sclerosis. Be sure to visit our website, HSCTWarriorsPodcast.com where you can find notes from today’s episode, submit ideas or feedback, or connect with HSCT Warriors, Inc. and schedule time to “Talk with a Warrior”, find the latest research and resources, or explore the world map. Special thanks to musical genius Billy Alletzhauser for sharing his superpowers to produce the soundtrack, and engineer the audio to make this podcast possible. You can find us both when you subscribe on SoundCloud, iTunes or wherever you find your podcasts.

It has been great to connect with Warriors worldwide, so please reach out if you’re interested in sharing your story. We would love to learn how the podcast has helped your journey with autoimmune disease so if you could take a moment, leave us a comment on instagram or share feedback on our website. We hope you’ll tune in next Wednesday for another episode, highlighting another HSCT Warrior. Until then, be a snowflake and embrace your superpowers.  Be kind.  Be well.

_________________________________

Jen Stansbury Koenig and the producers disclaim medical influence and responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information contained herein. If you think you have a medical problem, please contact a licensed physician.

Resources:
Wahl’s Protocol
Rooftop Prayer Warriors

Check-in with Ron along his recovery rollercoaster and be inspired with positivity and perseverance

August 26, 2020 — Leave a comment

Warrior: Ron Gabrielli
AI: Multiple Sclerosis
HSCT: 5/6/17
Superpower: Hope

How inspired are you to help others? How important are caregivers in your journey with disease?

After enjoying such an incredible experience at Clinica Ruiz, Ron and his wife have spent countless hours connecting with individuals to answer questions and share support to help people make informed decisions about HSCT. While all Ron cares about is paying forward the support he received in his experience, he joins so many others post-HSCT who question the systems that keep HSCT out of reach for so many. 

Tune in and learn more about the various strategies that Ron has tried out during his three plus years of recovery, how he managed to check his pride, and all the hope he holds on to as he continues reconciling with the realities of recovery. Be sure to visit our website, HSCTWarriorsPodcast.com where you can find notes from today’s episode, submit ideas or feedback, or connect with HSCT Warriors, Inc. and schedule time to “Talk with a Warrior”, find the latest research and resources, or explore the world map. Special thanks to musical genius Billy Alletzhauser for sharing his superpowers to produce the soundtrack, and engineer the audio to make this podcast possible. You can find us both when you subscribe on SoundCloud, iTunes or wherever you find your podcasts.

It has been great to connect with Warriors worldwide, so please reach out if you’re interested in sharing your story. We would love to learn how the podcast has helped your journey with autoimmune disease so if you could take a moment, leave us a comment on instagram or share feedback on our website. We hope you’ll tune in next Wednesday for another episode, highlighting another HSCT Warrior. Until then, be a snowflake and embrace your superpowers.  Be kind.  Be well.

_________________________________

Jen Stansbury Koenig and the producers disclaim medical influence and responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information contained herein. If you think you have a medical problem, please contact a licensed physician.

Resources: 
Tao Patch
Ex N Flex