Sharon Krar’s body is changing every day. Slowly, the Grimsby woman is regaining some of the freedom Multiple
Sclerosis robbed from her 25 years ago.

On Oct. 6, Krar and her personal support worker Dawne Swackhammer boarded a plane headed for Central America. The two were destined for
Costa Rica, but it wasn’t for a leisurely vacation. Krar was scheduled

to have surgery at a San Jose hospital the next day to remove blockages

in her veins that an Italian vascular surgeon believes is the cause for

many of the disease’s debilitating symptoms.

The Liberation Treatment was pioneered by Dr. Paolo Zamboni, an Italian surgeon who found that clogged jugular veins eventually lead to
MS. During the procedure, the veins are opened up preventing a condition

he calls chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency.

It took just 40 minutes for Costa Rican surgeons to perform the treatment, and every day since, Krar has had small victories.

“The first thing I noticed, when I woke up in my hospital bed, was that my fingers were no longer clenched,” said Krar, refreshed and home
from her liberating vacation. “I used to hold my right hand clenched

against my stomach and I haven’t been able to use it for so long. Now, I

am able to legibly sign my cheques with my right hand. It’s amazing.

Every day things are happening.”

Costa Rica is one of few countries offering the surgery. Health Canada has put off clinical trials until more research has been done
forcing Canadians unable to wait the three to five years it will take

for Canada to approve the treatment to leave the country. Krar had

originally planned to fly to Albany, N.Y. for the treatment, but a long

waiting list and news of success from a Burlington woman encouraged her

to travel to Central America instead.

“The actual procedure is a wonderful miracle in itself,” said Krar, who was diagnosed with MS 25 years ago and has spent the past two years
confined to a wheelchair. “Instead of having to rely on drugs to

prolong what ends up as death in the end anyway. It’s been 10 years of

progression that has slowly lead to this.”

Now, Krar is looking forward to the ultimate dream — stepping out of the chair. She is building her core strength as well her leg muscles
with strict physiotherapy, which began in Costa Rica.

“If I want to walk I have to be able to hold myself upright,” she said. “It’s been a wonderful experience, a healing for every part of the
body.”

Costa Rica’s diverse environment also helped Krar’s journey. While not taking part in physiotherapy, Krar would enjoy the countryside
taking in the gardens and talking with the locals. She even tangoed with

a “Latin lover” during an evening of live entertainment at the hotel.

“It was a wonderful trip,” said Krar, who informed her husband Alan of her tango experience while staying in Costa Rica. “And it’s just
going on and up from here.”

Alan has been keeping a list of the progress Krar has made, marking down every little change that occurs. He bought his wife a new baseball
glove and bat, and though she can’t yet run the bases, she did play a

game of catch with Alan in the backyard of their Grimsby home.

“It was hard to catch with a brand new glove,” said Krar. “But once I’m standing I’ll work on that.”

While Krar is elated with the progress she had made she continued to be overwhelmed by the community support she received prior to her
trip. Fundraisers were held in Grimsby and her hometown of Fort Erie and

were generously supported by both communities.

“I can’t say enough thank yous to the people who helped me get down there,” said Krar. “It’s just incredible.”

http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news/article/897586--taking-her-life-back