Local MS mum to undergo stem cell treatment
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MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferer Rona Tynan will be jetting off to Mexico for specialised therapy after managing to raise £50,000.
Mrs Tynan, a mum-of-two and former Metropolitan police sergeant, will leave her home in Kingsmills next Friday to undergo stem cell treatment in early October.
Mrs Tynan (50) and her family had six weeks to raise funds for the therapy after she was accepted for treatment starting on October 7.
"I feel like I’m on the biggest, scariest roller coaster of my life," she said. "I am on overdrive with so many emotions going on."
Mrs Tynan was diagnosed with MS 13 years ago. Earlier this year, she befriended fellow MS sufferer Colin Campbell after he announced he intended to end his life at a Swiss clinic. She convinced Mr Campbell to reconsider and also decided to re-evaluate her own situation.
The procedure is not available on the NHS or even privately in the UK but has been credited with arresting and even reversing symptoms in many other MS sufferers.
Mrs Tynan and her husband will spend a month in Mexico.
The treatment itself is deemed high risk as it will involve effectively wiping out her immune system and building it up again, leaving her vulnerable to infections during the recovery period.
"How it has been explained to me in simple terms is that it is like a computer being rebooted with new, clean cells," Mrs Tynan said.
"It’s not a cure but it stops progression and most people also report improvement of some sort, with some showing complete reverse.
"To stop the progression will mean the world and allow me to plan for the future instead of waiting for the inevitable."
Mrs Tynan visited the Scottish Parliament on Thursday with Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain to help raise awareness of MS.
He has submitted a motion which congratulates Mrs Tynan for her fundraising efforts and wishes her well with her treatment.
He also asked the Scottish Government what actions it was taking to raise the profile of MS sufferers.
"Rona continues to be an inspiration to all for her fundraising efforts and her invaluable support to fellow MS sufferers," he said.
Mrs Tynan hopes to continue helping other MS sufferers in the future.
"I want to try and lobby to get the procedure done on the NHS," she said. "I just want to put the message out there, I don’t want people to give up."
