ONE Stawell mother will have a chance to walk again after overwhelming community support.
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Melissa Vos has had multiple sclerosis for 25 years.
The condition has substantially limited Mrs Vos’ movement in recent years.
Melissa’s daughter Tieran Vos has spearheaded a campaign for revolutionary treatment which could significantly improve her mother’s quality of life.
The Vos family had hoped to get Melissa treatment at MasterDerm Clinic at Broadbeach.
The treatment involves the removal of stem cells from the bone marrow, where they are then processed outside of the body and then re-injected via intravenous injection.
The cost of the procedure is $20,000.
The gofundme page Tieran has created raised that amount in just over a day and was up to $25,000 in the space of three days.
The Facebook page she has created, entitled See Vossey Walk, has more than 500 ‘likes’.
A video created by Stawell resident Ashleigh Dark has also helped assist with the cause.
Tieran said she was in shock with the response.
“Although the treatment is $20,000 I still thought my target was really ambitious,” she said.
“The fact we cracked it in less then 30 hours is just crazy.
She said her mother was in the process of undergoing tests in preparation for her treatment which would start in about four weeks.
Tieran said the disease had great affected her mother over the years.
“She first noticed something wasn't right when she was 19 and dropped my brother Tyson in the bath and was unable to pick him up again,” she said.
“He was seven weeks old and she had to kick the bath off the table to stop him from drowning – her arms physically would not work.
“She unselfishly calls herself blessed to have lived so well with disease for numbered years, however now she endures more bad days than good.”
Tieran said her mother’s MS had turned from relapsing remitting to secondary progressive.
“She now lives with a permanent brace on her left leg as she has no feeling or sensation,” she said.
“She relies on crutches to get around the house and isn't allowed to walk more than 75 metres.
“If she has to go up the street to do something as seemingly simple as getting milk from the supermarket then she needs to allow a three hour sleep to compensate for strain put on her body.
“To aid her in not exerting so much energy she has both a wheelchair and a gopher.
“She's such a proud woman and her transition into accepting both her sets of wheels was not an easy one.”
Tieran said she wanted to thank everyone who donated to the cause.
“If it wasn't for the help and support from everyone it would be months or if ever before mum could get this treatment,” she said.
“I just really want to emphasise on how every single donation, however great or small is equally as important and meaningful to us.
“We also value everyone's kind words and well wishes just as much as we appreciate the donations.”
Tieran said anything raised over the $20,000 mark would still be welcome.
“Post the procedure mum will have to go on a long course of peptides and that is another great cost,” she said.
“But anything I can raise extra I'd love to give back to the MS Society, we don't need to keep outside out means.”