HSCT Warriors

Warrior: Stacy McNall AI: Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: May 14, 2019 Superpower: being still Are you someone that trusts the process? How do you handle the need to slow down? Are you able to find calm in the storm? As a very active person who “lived in overdrive” as a nurse practitioner and marathoner, Stacy tended to set aside the symptoms she experienced for nearly 18 years before...

Continue learning Carolyn’s insider perspective with HSCT at the Cleveland Clinic (Ep. 82 part 2) by Zen Jen Stansbury Koenig

Warrior: Carolyn Deming AI: Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: scheduled May 4 Superpower: blatant honesty Do you ponder problems or possibilities? What is your approach to finding the right mindset? How do you advocate for what you know you need? After experiencing significant eye pain but no other symptoms, Carolyn was “utterly stunned” to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis on her 32nd birthday. Her fir...

Warrior: Charissa Rigano AI: Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: December, 2020 Superpower: self-confidence In our first tandem interview, meet HSCT Warrior Charissa and physical therapist, Dr. Gretchen Hawley, who have been collaborating throughout Charissa’s experience with multiple sclerosis. Dr. Hawley committed to specializing in multiple sclerosis and, in consideration for the challenges that any parti...

Warrior: Joceline AI: Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: March 29, 2021 Superpower: tenacity How often do you reflect on all that is happening? Do you ever consider yourself from the inside-out? How do you find patience? Last week we reconnected with Joceline, who we first met in Season 6 while she anxiously awaited hearing about when she might be able to schedule HSCT in Moscow, as she was not eligible in...

Warrior: Joceline AI: Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: March 29, 2021 Superpower: tenacity How often do you reflect on all that is happening? Do you ever consider yourself from the inside-out? How do you find patience? When we first met Joceline in Season 6, she shared concerns over the COVID variant in the UK that had delayed her acquiring a schedule to begin HSCT at the AA Maximov hospital in Moscow. Ne...

Warrior: Eric Saperstein AI: Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: July 5, 2020 Superpower: Speed (to HSCT) Are you someone to live in the present, or anticipate the future? How do you know what’s going to help you? Where do you find hope? After experiencing trigeminal neuralgia and receiving an MRI that diagnosed him with MS, Eric consulted with two different neurologists. Rather than discussing the efficacy...

Warrior: Jan-Marie AI: Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: June 16, 2020 Superpower: Hope What do you think is happening? How do you advocate for yourself when seeking answers? Nearly immediately after HSCT, Jan-Marie experienced significant improvements with her balance and walking and knew in her heart that HSCT worked to halt progression. So, when Jan-Marie began experiencing new challenges, pain, and neu...

Warrior: Ali Roberts AI: Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: November 2017 Superpower: Gratitude How happy are you with what is happening today? Where are you along the journey with acceptance? How do you live your best life? The beginning of a new season offers the opportunity to check in with Ali the four-year mark of HSCT recovery. Tune in to learn more about how Ali has navigated psychological and emotio...

Warrior: Michelle Webb AI: Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: 5/19 Superpower: Compassion and understanding Are you someone to believe that everything happens for a reason? How often does your experience with disease cancel plans with friends and family? How often are you kind to your body and mind? After realizing the eighth disease modifying therapy she tried (since 2011) wasn’t helpin...

Warrior: DeWayne Durr AI: Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: scheduled for September, 2020 Superpower: prayer and understanding How comfortable are you with difficult or impossible situations? How direct are you about the care you receive from your doctors? When faced with the chance of being randomly assigned to receive HSCT, would you feel conflicted? After DeWayne researched the disea...

Warrior: Ron Gabrielli AI: Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: 5/6/17 Superpower: Hope How inspired are you to help others? How important are caregivers in your journey with disease? After enjoying such an incredible experience at Clinica Ruiz, Ron and his wife have spent countless hours connecting with individuals to answer questions and share support to help people make informed decisions about HSCT. While...

Warrior: Chelsey Bell AI: RRMS HSCT: 7/11/18 Superpower: Self awareness How often do you find time to reflect on what works for your body? Have you been able to truly appreciate time with yourself? How does it feel to connect with someone else over commonalities? Sharing insights to her solo experience getting to Moscow, Chelsey offers so much inspiration for the importance of mindset, taking time...

Warrior: Jan-Marie Morgan AI: Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: June, 2020 Superpower: Patience How often do you take doctors’ first opinions without questioning? How often do you take time for self-care? Not only does Jan-Marie set a shining example to approach life with optimism and positivity, she offers insight into what it’s like to research scientific evidence to inform opinion, foster support both e...

Warrior: John Taylor AI: Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: September 2019 at Northwestern Superpower: Appreciation Have you ever tried to describe the sensation of severe pain, despite knowing that you’re also physically numb? When side effects and risk outweigh the good, how do you make a choice? How do you feel when selected for the chance of a lifetime, knowing others have to miss that chance? After yea...

Warrior: Kim Rodning AI: Scleroderma HSCT: September 4, 2018 at Duke University Medical Center Superpower: perseverance, patience, and perspective Do you practice daily affirmations of positivity? Does your self talk promote healing or judgment? How does hearing the stories of other Warriors help you? Having encountered the possibility of HSCT by chance, Kim explored more about the research and pr...

Warrior: Jess Green AI: MS HSCT: February 2019 at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney - trial by the Kinghorn Cancer Centre Superpower: Love and compassion from others When your doctors run out of options, are you ready to suggest a course of action? Despite the scary struggle or the bad times, can you find the goodness? How strong is your support system? With a relatively quick diagnosis of Multiple Sc...

Warrior: Lydia Rosenbaum AI: Crohn’s Disease HSCT: August 2002 at Northwestern Memorial, Chicago Superpower: Empathy and belief in self After spending time in palliative care planning to die, how do you find the right time to celebrate success with surviving? How do you find compassion for people who have never walked in your shoes? How often do you push your limits? Despite suffering extreme comp...

Warrior: Tamara Netzel AI: Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: Dec. 2019, Monterrey Mexico Superpower: truth Have you ever been close to a resolution, only for it to slip through the cracks? How long has it taken for you to feel supported by your doctors? What would it look like if you pledged to help just one person get to HSCT? After a long road to diagnosis, the first disease modifying treatment that Tama...

Warrior: Craig Witkowski AI: Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: September 2019 in Puebla Superpower: Patience Do you find it tough to maintain patience with yourself or doctors? How easily do you find a positive mental outlook? How tightly do you hold hope? After being on a first-line drug to hold off initial onset of his MS symptoms, Craig found benefit for a few years until he stopped the medication due t...

arrior: Meghan Newell Davis AI: Scleroderma HSCT: 1/22/19 Duke University Superbower: Unbreakable Have you ever watched a doctor google your symptoms to find help? How often do you take the little things in life for granted? As you move through life, do you take caution not to 'poke the bear'? Celebrating a son just one year younger than her new immune system, Meghan offers our listeners a glimpse...

Warrior: Jess Faulds AI: Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: July 2019 in Calgary, CA Superpower: Sensation and mental strength How do you react when people stare at you? At what age did you feel confident about managing your options with autoimmune disease? Where do you find faith in humanity? Being diagnosed with MS at 15 years young certainly wasn’t a walk in the park for Jess, but it motivated her to kee...

Warrior: Ahna Crum AI: Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: April, 2016 in Moscow Russia Superpower: Shapeshifting What motivates you to find curiosity in life? Have you ever been let down by a one-size-fits-all approach? How equipped are you to adapt? After suffering significant relapses from an early age, in her late twenties Ahna found HSCT through her research trying to avoid moving into an assisted livin...

Warrior: Graciela AI: Multiple Sclerosis HSCT: January 2021 Superpower: value for life How do you find peace of mind? Do you feel supported by family and doctors? How do you explore purpose in life? After initially being told her symptoms were all in her head, Graciela received an apology from her neurologist along with her diagnosis. She was presented with options for treatment including disease...

Warrior: Heidi Pete AI: Relapsing Remitting MS HSCT: July, 2019 Superpower: strength Do you take the time to celebrate in life? How often do you recognize the little victories? Although Heidi was diagnosed relatively soon after her first experiences with early symptoms of multiple sclerosis, the doctor she saw focused more on prescribing medications to treat symptoms she was experiencing and it se...