If John Milles could find even some relief from the debilitating symptoms of multiple sclerosis, it would be "worth
every penny" he intends to pay for a controversial treatment.

The 49-year-old St. Thomas man is off to Providence, R.I., in March for the
popular, yet controversial, chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency

(CCSVI) treatment, also known as the liberation procedure.

A disabling disease of the central nervous system, MS attacks the protective
covering around nerves, affecting how the brain and central nervous

system communicate with each other.

The liberation procedure was developed by Italian surgeon Paolo Zamboni, whose research suggests MS
is a disease in which veins from the brain are constricted. By inserting

a balloon or stents inside those veins, the constriction is relieved

and most patients, according to his research, see an improvement.

Milles is hopeful the procedure will work; he's lived with MS since he was 18 years old.

Until four or five years ago, he was symptom-free, but things have changed.

"I'm at the point right now where I'm legally blind. I can still see a
little bit, but over the last four or five years my vision has been

progressively getting worse," Milles said. He finds hope in what he's

heard about the liberation procedure from others, both on the Internet,

and from Vickie Butler, a Belmont-area resident. She travelled to Mexico

earlier this year and reported success from the procedure.

"If I could have half the results that these people have had, I'll be very
happy with it and it'll be worth every penny," Milles said.

"It won't relieve all of my symptoms but what it'll do is hopefully stop it from getting worse."

While the treatment sounds promising, it's not available in Canada. The
national MS society and the federal government have agreed to test the

procedure, but that could be a slow process.

"For people like myself and Vickie and other people suffering, we can't wait 10 years," Milles said.

The procedure now is available in the U.S. Milles is on a waiting list
which, barring cancellations, means he'll have the procedure done in

March.

He estimates his costs for the trip, procedure and follow-up appointment will be between $12,000 and $15,000, but that
could balloon if complications arise.

To pay for this, he's organized a football fundraiser at the Hi-Ro Shrine Club for Nov. 25.

"We're going to have the football games on, we're going to raffle off a
big-screen TV that day as well, and have people come out and enjoy

themselves."

Then on Jan. 29, Milles and fellow musicians plan to hold a concert at the Princess Avenue Playhouse.

For more information, visit www.johnmilles.com.

Donations can be made at RBC to account number 04302-5061163. Donations also can be made through Paypal, using his e-mail liberation@rogers.com.

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