From the Annette Funicello Research Fund Facebook page--comments from Annette's doctor:

Annette's husband, Glen, took Annette to see her long-time doctor a few days ago who has been following her MS since the beginning. For the first time, there was some encouraging news. We would like to share his findings with you, our friends and supporters. As always, please think about making a donation to Annette's fund at annetteconnection.com so we can continue to move forward for her and for all of those who suffer from this devastating disease. Here are the doctor's observations:

"Glen brought in Annette today for a follow-up visit. Since my last visit with her following the CCSVI procedure, her condition generally appeared stable, and Glen noted that her swallowing remained improved. It was my personal observation today, that she seemed much more responsive to my verbal conversation with her. She made clear eye contact with me suggesting improvement in both her vision and cognition that had been damaged by the severity of her chronic progressive MS. She clearly was trying to respond affirmatively to yes and no questions with appropriate facial movements. I have not seen this degree of attentiveness and responsiveness by her in years. It was quite heartening.

While MS can certainly fluctuate in it's severity in neurological deficits on its own without any intervention, and Annette's case remains one that is advanced and severe, it is hopeful that the improvements noted by Glen, and now myself may suggest some clinical benefit to Annette from the procedure. If the improvements noted are due to CCSVI in a patient with such advanced disease, this gives even more hope for even greater benefit to those patients with chronic progressive MS who have less advanced disease, to stabilize and improve their conditions before their neurological deficits become more permanent and severe."


ANNETTE FUNICELLO RESEARCH FUND FOR NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES INC.
Dedicated to funding research into the cause, treatment, and cure of Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological diseases.