Author Archives: Melissa B.

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About Melissa B.

I am a 40 year old mom to two boys. I have MS. I am a fighter.

Why we raise money for MS

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The reason we do this auction is twofold: We love to see our friends-eating, drinking and being merry & we love to help the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Oregon Chapter.

The reason we are so pationate about the later is because Melissa was diagnosed in 2013 with Relapsing Remitting MS. Over the course of 6 1/2 years, she’s taken well over 300 injections, had two rounds of IV steroids at the hospital that lasted up to five days, spent hours in an MRI machine and had plenty of bumps, bruises, [MS] hugs, Cog-Foggy days, and lots of spasticity in her lower back and hips, making sitting and standing hard.

But she carries on! In 2014, she found the MS Society and participated in her first WalkMS event in Portland. Later that year, she rode in her first BikeMS event, making it 26 miles before her body was so over heated and she bonked (cyclist terms for crashing in energy, mood, and all around feeling like shit). But she was proud and decided to make both a yearly event!
Want to know how many miles she (and her husband, Rob) have done?

  • 2014: 26 Miles
  • 2015: 33 Miles
  • 2016: 65 Miles- First Metric Century ride with Rob (going forward)
  • 2017: 33 Miles
  • 2018: 100 Miles- First Century ride!
  • 2019: 65 Miles- Second Metric Century ride!

Sometimes she forgets she has MS, but then there are days where she is so pooped, she can’t not think about it. This is why she (and Rob) ride.

There is no reason not to help find a cure. To help those who are struggling with day to day life, surviving (not living) with MS. Because sometimes it’s just getting through the day to day…MS patients are not living. We need to make it so people can LIVE again!

I am strong! Bike MS 2017

Patient’s stem cells cure MS?

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National MS Society Funds New Clinical Trial of Individuals’ Own Stem Cells to Treat Progressive MS
March 11, 2019

The National MS Society has committed $1 million over three years to help support a Phase II clinical trial of stem cells in progressive MS. The trial is being led by Dr. Saud Sadiq at the Tisch MS Research Center of New York, and follows a Phase I trial at Tisch MSRCNY that suggested the procedure was safe.
 
The Phase II is a placebo-controlled trial that will involve 50 people with progressive forms of MS. The stem cells are derived from participants’ own bone marrow stem cells. The cells are expanded in the laboratory, directed to develop into specific cells called Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Neural Progenitors, and infused into the spinal fluid in multiple doses.
 
The stem cells are thought to release growth factors that may promote tissue repair as well as immune messengers that may inhibit immune responses. The trial will test whether participants show positive changes in measures of disability.
 
“There is an urgent need for more effective treatments for MS, particularly for those with more progressive forms of the disease,” said Dr. Bruce Bebo, National MS Society Executive Vice President, Research. “We believe that the potential of all types of cell therapies must be explored, and we are pleased to be a part of this clinical trial.”

National MS Society

MS Awareness Week

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This week is MS Awareness week… 3 years ago this week I was at the hospital hooked into an IV getting heavy steroids to stave off a flare up. This week I went rock climbing at an indoor gym (something I hadn’t done in 2 years). How’d I do, you might ask? Not great, but I was able to climb up a wall, however I realized that my grip strength is crap and I need to work on strength training even more. LOL!

I had posted to Instagram and Facebook, that I wanted to get a plan for the auction this year. I asked if July or September worked best for attendees. I plan on announcing that date this week but I am waiting to hear back from our awesome BikeMS director because I want to get a couple questions answered. The biggest change to this year’s auction, besides the possibility of it being in September, is HOW we turn in money. We are going to be working to get Intel to match up to $5,000! So I am trying to iron out those kinks. We will also be using real tickets as well, whether through Eventbrite or another vendor.