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Over £10,000 has been raised in less than 24hrs in a GoFundMe campaign to help a Newry woman get treatment in Mexico for her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis.
Gemma Tumilty was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in August 2023 and she has had an incredibly difficult year, not only physically due to relapses but with her mental health as well. She has made the decision to go for autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT), but although the NHS is undergoing trials of the treatment Gemma doesn't meet the criteria and going private here would cost over £100,000. Instead she plans to travel to a clinic in Mexico to obtain the treatment.
Gemma works as a nurse locally including in ICU, Coronary Care and within Palliative Care. Launching the campaign her husband Shane said "She has felt truly at home caring for members of our community and their families in their darkest days."
"It was at work Gemma took unwell in August 2023. After a frightening few days and countless investigations Gemma was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This diagnosis hit us hard, especially as I am already registered as severely sight impaired (blind). It often makes me wonder how much tough luck one family can endure."
Since her diagnosis, Gemma has started on disease-modifying drugs, but the results have been limited with difficult side effects.
The family while searching for information on the condition discovered the AHSCT treatment which uses high-dose chemotherapy and stem cells to essentially reboot the immune system and aim for remission from MS.
The GoFundMe campaign explains that they have found a highly regarded clinic in Mexico that offers this treatment at a more feasible cost although they would still face significant expense, including travel and accommodation for at least a month while their four children stay with family.
Shane concludes "A special word of thanks to those MS warriors who are continuing to fight this condition day in and day out with us. It is no easy task living with the challenge of this complicated illness and its so often invisible symptoms. Your kind words and support are invaluable."
You can support the campaign at www.gofundme.com
