FREDERICTON - Four months from now Tim Donovan and John McLaughlin hope they’ll be able raise enough awareness about liberation therapy that the Canadian government will finally approve the controversial treatment.
The two New Brunswick men both live with multiple sclerosis: Donovan for 25 years, McLaughlin since 2005.
The men travelled outside of Canada to undergo liberation therapy to relieve the debilitating symptoms they suffered.
Having been bedridden for the better part of seven years, Donovan says he is able to walk and even jump since undergoing the procedure to widen neck veins and improve blood flow.
“I know there needs to be studies, there needs to be research,” he says.
“But, let’s not wait 10 years to do that, or five or two years. Four hundred people die from MS every day in Canada.”
McLaughlin travelled to the U.S. state of Rhode Island two weeks ago to undergo the treatment, which was pioneered by Dr. Paolo Zamboni.
He says his energy level has gone up dramatically and he is able to see colour again.
“I’m just perplexed as to why Canada, which has the highest rates of MS in North America, doesn’t have this procedure available.”
The duo will set off from St. John’ s N.L. Monday on a four-month journey from coast-to-coast, called New Hope for MS, planning to raise enough awareness to push the government for funding.
While New Brunswick’s premier, David Alward, says the provincial government is working on a plan to offer MS patients assistance, the details of which will be revealed in the coming weeks.
But, that’s just one province, not the whole country.
According to the New Hope for MS website, at least 1,300 Canadians have already left the country to undergo liberation therapy.
Around the world, the site says, more than 12,000 people have had the treatment since news of it broke in 2009.
You can follow Tim Donovan and John McLaughlin on their journey on the website New Hope for MS.
http://www.globaltoronto.com/Hope%20Cross%20Canada%20journey%20promote%20liberation%20treatment/4740155/story.html