BARRIE - Barrie’s Steve Garvie, founder of the CCSVI Foundation of Canada, is ready to forge ahead in sending patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for treatment.
Especially since he’s seen the results first-hand, not once but twice.
Garvie was diagnosed with MS 13 years ago, and in January 2010, he was one of six people to have an angioplasty-like surgery at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre to unblock one of the veins in his neck.
Chronic Cerebral Spinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) is a blockage of one or more veins in the neck area. And even after a recent relapse, Garvie said he still believes the treatment alleviates the blockage.
Before his surgery in 2010, Garvie used a walker or an electric wheelchair to get around and he felt fatigued all the time. He lived in government-assisted housing.
After the surgery, he was able to move into his own home and was able to take his dog Magoo for walks.
As a result of that, Garvie created the CCSVI Foundation of Canada, to help raise money for others with MS who want to get the costly treatment done in the United States.
But recently, Garvie went to Synergy Health Concepts in Costa Mesa, California to have the surgery redone.
Garvie explained that previously only one of his three blocked veins was treated.
But he also knows statistics show several patients need to repeat the surgery.
He said if it makes the difference between being confined to a wheelchair and walking, however, he would continue to go for the surgery.
Garvie said he’s helped 60 MS patients from across Ontario book their own surgeries.
To help cover their costs, he’s planning his second-annual Stroll and Roll Sunday, April 15. The stroll begins at 10 a.m.
For more details, call 705-737-1744.

http://www.simcoe.com/news/article/1316998--ms-patient-has-second-surgery