February 12, 2011

                                           THE TRUTH HURTS

 Dear Government of Canada and members of Parliament,

I would like to thank those that came to the meeting regarding CCSVI on February the 8th with Dr. Sandy McDonald, Dr.Mark Haacke and Dr. David Hubbard on Parliament Hill.  Now I would like everyone to know the utter disappointment I feel with the fact that Ms. Leona Aglukkaq did not show up for this meeting. I feel that with her absence at this meeting, she has shown every person suffering from CCSVI that the Progressive Conservatives have no interest in helping over 75,000 Canadians receive treatment that would restore proper blood flow.

 On September the 14th 2010 my wife had a 45 minute venoploasty procedure that has changed our family’s life. Before Jenny had her procedure I was at my breaking point not knowing how I would continue to care for the love of my life. I would have to help her in and out of bed all through the night so she could get to the bathroom. My 11 year old son would have to help his mother get dressed every morning as I was at work. Noah would put on Jenny’s shoes and do up her pants. Jenny was getting worse daily, her Copaxone and all the other MS medications have proved futile.

150 days post venoplasty procedure that restored blood drainage from Jenny’s brain has allowed fresh oxygenated blood to enter her brain and for toxins to be removed. Jenny now gets dressed, puts on her own shoes and gets in and out of bed on her own. Noah has his mom back and I have my family. Yesterday, Jenny said, “did you see how fast I got up the stairs”? I said, “I missed it”.  Jenny went back down two flights of stairs and came bounding back up singing.  5 months ago we did not even go downstairs as it was too hard for Jenny.  She has a long recovery road ahead of her and I am beside her every step of the way instead of behind pushing the wheelchair.

The truth really hurts knowing that our current government is just going to sit back and take direction from the MSSC and the CIHR. These two groups are too involved with pharmaceutical companies and with funding each other’s research. Why would the Progressive Conservatives look for advice from these groups with the obvious conflicts of interest that each party has pertaining to the treatment of CCSVI?

I am still hopeful that the current government will step up and advocate for the treatment of CCSVI. Please Canada help those who need a serious venous abnormality corrected before they succumb to compilations from MS symptoms. Please give other family’s a chance at having a life with hope and dreams.

Lorin Powell

Nanaimo BC

http://www.facebook.com/notes/lorin-powell/the-truth-hurts/189017644451778