For Carman's Jolene Stevenson is a chance to improve her health when coping with the effects of multiple sclerosis.

Stevenson, who is in her 30s, is preparing to leave for Pune, India for ten days to receive the MS Liberation Treatment and initial follow-up medical care.

The procedure, pioneered by Italian doctor Paolo Zamboni is based on the concept that MS symptoms may be greatly reduced by opening veins in the neck. Zamboni came up with the treatment as a way to help wife Elena who has MS.

Offering Hope

For MS sufferers like Stevenson the treatment represents hope that the often devastating impact of MS can be alleviated.

"MS is a disease that can send you to a wheelchair," she said. "We know that this isn't a cure but it's a chance to slow down the progress of MS and improve your health."

Stevenson has already travelled to Grand Forks, North Dakota in October to have an initial screening of the veins in her neck and there is a blockage.

She is also in "stage one" of the disease which has already caused problems such as drastic reductions in energy that causes severe weakness at times and losing her eyesight, which is considered to be 20/20, during the times of an MS attack.

"I can still walk but some days it's very difficult," she explained.

Not Available In Canada

In Canada the Liberation Treatment is not available. While some provinces have been promising to set aside money for studies, the procedure itself is not offered. Instead MS sufferers like Stevenson have to go to other countries like Bulgaria, Poland and in this instance, India to receive the treatment. They also have to pay the costs such as for the procedure itself, initial follow-up treatment along with travel and housing expenses.

Stevenson who first learned of the treatment from friends who had seen the report of Zamboni and MS Liberation on the television news program, W5, is frustrated that more isn't being done in her home country.

"It's frustrating that we have to go all the way to places like India," Stevenson said about the twenty hour plane ride that includes a stopover in Germany. "I think we're [in Canada] being a little bit too cautious. It doesn't make a lot of sense."

And she noted that she has already discussed going overseas for the treatment.

"I'm not worried about the procedure at all. I've talked to my [Canadian] doctor about it and got his blessing," she said.

For more information on the MS Liberation Treatment online go to www.ccsviclinic.ca.