PARRY SOUND - Clinical trials for liberation treatment will now have federal funding. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced funding for trials of the  treatment for sufferers of Chronic Cerebro Spinal Venous Insufficiency CCSVI - a syndrome linked to Multiple Sclerosis, which opens up blocked veins restricting blood flow to the central nervous system..
In a meeting with experts on CCSVI, and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) there was unanimous agreement that a clinical trial should proceed, said Aglukkaq in a press release.
Currently, Canadians not diagnosed with MS are eligible to have the 15-minute non-invasive procedure in their own country. Those who have been diagnosed, however, are off limits.
The decision to fund the trials comes after many Canadians have shelled out thousands to have the procedure in other countries. In one Parry Sounder's case, the final bill for the treatment comes in at $25,000 when the minimum fee of $8,500 is coupled with the cost of an air ambulance to fly to Rhode Island, an attendant nurse while travelling and after-treatment care. Dawn Smith was diagnosed with MS in the fall of 1983 and in 1996, at the age of 33, the disease forced her into a wheelchair. Smith hopes the liberation treatment will return the use of her hands.  Earlier this year, Parry Sounders gathered for "Dinner for Dawn" and raised nearly $27,000 to cover the costs associated with the treatment.
Steve Garvey, president of the CCSVI foundation based out of Barrie, said 15,000 people worldwide who've been diagnosed with the dehabilitating disease have had the procedure in the last year, with two thirds of the patients showing positive results.
According to Garvey, spending millions of taxpayers' dollars to fund trials isn't necessary.
"(The trials) are proving something that's already been proven," he said, and noted he is happy medical professionals have admitted there is a connection between the two conditions.
Garvey, who was diagnosed with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis 12 years ago was in a wheelchair, lived in government housing and took $40,000 worth of drugs a year to cope with MS - until January of last year. Garvey and five others received the treatment at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, before it was shut down to MS patients. Now, Garvey walks with a cane and lives in a house.
To date this year, Garvey has booked 21 Canadian MS patients for liberation treatments around the world. All came back with positive results - a small start, he said.
Smith's original date for the treatment was June 15, which was then pushed back to July 18. Due to a cellulitis infection in one of Dawn's legs, doctors sent her home without the surgery.

"The surgeon phoned me and said he couldn't take the chance of operating on her," said Carol Cascanette, Dawn's mother. "Dawn was devastated... but I don't blame (the surgeon) for it one bit, he did what he had to do."
Now Smith and her family wait for a new date for the treatment while she recovers from the infection.
Despite a few setbacks, Smith isn't giving up.
"We've been through worse," said Cascanette. "And we will get through this too."
Cascanette said she is happy health officials are finally taking a look at liberation treatment and it's connection to the disease that has crippled her daughter.
"It's better than them saying 'you can all go jump in a lake.'"
Garvey said he will also continue to push for Smith's surgery.
"The third time is the charm. Dawn will have her day," he said.
On August 26, California doctor Michael Arata, who currently performs liberation treatments, will travel with colleagues to Barrie for an information session, during which he will answer questions about the procedure for those who are currently on the fence about getting the treatment. A location for the event is not yet finalized.
Until Canadians with MS are able to have the treatment, Garvey said the CCSVI Foundation will continue to book patients elsewhere.
"(The foundation) won't be quiet about this," he said. "Not until we see results."

http://www.cottagecountrynow.ca/news/article/1051603--government-to-fund-liberation-treatment-trials