The date is set, the flight booked; Karen Cyopik is taking her shot at liberation from her continued battle with multiple sclerosis.
For over 20 months Cyopik has lived with fatigue, nausea and a host of other symptoms on top of once-a-week injections for the disease, and, while she has suffered she has looked forward with some hope to a new and controversial treatment for the disease — the CCSVI Liberation Procedure. While the medical profession is divided on the treatment that involves a widening of the neck veins, Cyopik believes it is the answer to slowing the disease and will travel to Costa Rica for the treatment on March 3.
“I’m so excited,” she said, adding that before she can go she does need some help with the $15,000 price tag of the surgery and related 10 days of physiotherapy.
In order to get her there Cyopik’s two daughters, Lindsey Ciupa and Erin Cyopik, have already organized two fundraisers to get their mother the treatment she hopes will slow the disease. The first, a bowling night at Fairview Bowling lanes in St. Catharines, took place in December.
The proceeds of that night and continued donations to Cyopik’s website, www.karensjourney.com, have already amounted to $12,000.
“It has far surpassed what I ever dreamed,” said Cyopik pointing out individuals from as far away as France have contributed either with financial donations or kind words of support and prayers.
“I just want to publicly thank everyone,” said Cyopik who explained that without such support from friends, family and complete strangers she could have never afforded the treatment.
With Cyopik’s departure date rapidly approaching her daughters have one more fundraiser planned — a Raffle Extravaganza Evening at the Stamford Lions Hall, 3846 Portage Rd. in Niagara Falls. Taking place at 9 p.m. on Feb. 26 the stag-and-doe style event will feature drinks, a buffet, door prizes and raffles.
“There are lots of neat raffle prizes,” said Cyopik, adding that bed and breakfast vouchers, helicopter rides and sports tickets are just some of the donated items up for grabs. Tickets will cost $10 and include a door prize ticket and late-night buffet. Tickets can be purchased by emailing karensjourney@rocketmail.com.
“Bless my two daughters for doing all this,” said Cyopik, adding, “I can’t wait to go, if it wasn’t for the cost I would have gone already.”

http://www.niagarathisweek.com/community/health/article/954850--stag-and-doe-for-ms-treatment