Be inspired along Zarko’s journey to HSCT and find joy with what is (Ep. 74 part 1)

Warrior: Zarko Bilal
AI: Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
HSCT: April, 2021
Superpower: positive thinking

When did you start to figure out the important things in life? How do you overcome fear of the unknown? How do you keep your mentality in tact?

After a happenstance diagnosis of MS, Zarko initially held on to the hope that his symptoms would be a one-time hit of CIS. Easy to rationalize because of all the stress he experienced, he recovered fairly quickly and set out on his career path as a new attorney. After a year, the disease caught up with him, and unfortunately he noticed new symptoms that helped confirm his diagnosis. As he consulted with research about the disease and various treatment options, he found HSCT and asked two different neurologists for their opinions.

Tune in to the first of this two-part episode to learn more about Zarko’s plans to pursue HSCT and how they were delayed by covid. 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.

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

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 Eileen’s uncertainty rollercoasters, and their shift through self-care (S2 replay)

Warrior: Eileen Hushion
Snowflake: Multiple Sclerosis
HSCT: 01/05/17
Superpower: Knowing you have the rest of your life to look forward to

How much fear do you have when facing uncertainty? How do you adjust when riding a roller coaster? What does normal even feel like? 

Despite years of debilitating fatigue and cycling through nine different disease modifying therapies, Eileen had a suspicion that someday, stem cells would help alleviate her pain. After researching the possibility of stem cells on her own, she found immediate support from her neurologist to pursue HSCT at Northwestern in Chicago.

Tune in to hear more about her experience of living with MS for twenty years, changes experienced post-HSCT, and learn more about the recovery roller coaster that has been life changing for Eileen.

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 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:
Yogaglo
Myofascial release

Revisit Alison’s insights for caregivers traveling abroad for HSCT (replay from S2)

Warrior: Alison Coates
Snowflake: AIMS Charity
HSCT: Caregiver
Superpower: Dedication

Have you considered the possibilities of traveling abroad to pursue HSCT to halt your autoimmune disease? Are you striving to overcome obstacles like funding or researching HSCT? 

Meet Alison, a caregiver for her warrior husband who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2010 and experienced significant declines in a short time. Once they determined HSCT would be the best avenue for treatment, they struggled to be accepted to their local clinic in the United Kingdom. After fundraising to pursue HSCT at Clinica Ruiz in Puebla Mexico, they were finally accepted for treatment in the UK and allocated the dollars already raised to begin AIMS; the world’s first charity to support individuals in their pursuit of HSCT.    

Tune in to learn more about how Alison came to co-found AIMS, the world’s first registered charity to support UK residents with Autoimmune Disease and Multiple Sclerosis, with an emphasis on HSCT.

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: 

AIMS Charity AIMS Symptom Checker
Clinica Ruiz, Puebla, Mexico
Aa Maximov Hospital, Moscow Russia