Testimonials Hope of liberation: portraits of MS therapy patients - facebook prikbord

Portraits of Paulette O'Leary at home in Toronto, Ontario on November 26, 2010. Paulette, a medical researcher and mother of two young girls, has twice had vascular procedures done to treat her MS. The first time the effects wore off quickly, but the second time the improvements to her health have remained. She no longer walks with a cane, and can keep up with her two girls, Payton Shuy, 5, and Meghan Shuy, 15 months. Her goal, she says, was to be able to walk down the aisle at their weddings - Portraits of Paulette O'Leary at home in Toronto, Ontario on November 26, 2010. Paulette, a medical researcher and mother of two young girls, has twice had vascular procedures done to treat her MS. The first time the effects wore off quickly, but the second time the improvements to her health have remained. She no longer walks with a cane, and can keep up with her two girls, Payton Shuy, 5, and Meghan Shuy, 15 months. Her goal, she says, was to be able to walk down the aisle at their weddings | Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

Testimonials

Hope of liberation: portraits of MS therapy patients

Caroline Alphonso and Siri Agrell

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Published Friday, Nov. 26, 2010 9:49PM EST

It has been a year since Paolo Zamboni offered the hope of liberation to multiple sclerosis patients everywhere.

The Italian doctor suggested that some cases are vascular disorders
caused by vein blockages that lead to a build-up of iron in the brain.

The possible way to free up the compromised blood flow – called chronic

cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) – is angioplasty. The

procedure uses tiny balloons to open constricted veins.

Since then, hundreds of Canadians have sought out the unproven treatment
overseas, paying tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket to have

their veins opened up with balloons and stents. One of them, an Ontario

resident named Mahir Mostic, died last month from complications after

undergoing the procedure at a Costa Rican clinic.

As Canadians look abroad for relief, Ottawa has advised that clinical
trials be delayed until more evidence is gathered about the connection

between blocked veins and MS. This week, as Newfoundland announced that

it would observe a group of patients seeking treatment outside the

country, Caroline Alphonso and Siri Agrell set out to do the same.

See more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/hope-of-liberation-portraits-of-ms-therapy-patients/article1815108/