Introduction

Hi to everyone out there in the blogosphere,


My name is Maria Silva. I am 25 years old, I am a microbiologist although I have barely gotten to work in my area. I love theatre, books ( right now I am devouring the classics) and almost every genre of music but these arent the reasons why I created this blog today. Five years ago I was diagnosed with a cronic disease known as Multiple Sclerosis. Little by little I have lost my functions. Right now I use a wheelchair when going outside and indoors I need a walker, even for short distances. All conventional therapies have failed and routine gestures have become unbearably difficult and the physical, economical and emotional burden is more than I can take. I have problems with my balance and have to always hold on to something so as not to fall, my hands and arms are weak, especially my left side forcing me to accomplish simple tasks like eating or bathing with my right but my biggest problem is my legs: painful spasms, weakness and increased fatigue. On occassion the fatigue is so bad that I cant make it to my bedroom or the bathroom.

But with all this Ive never lost hope: Hope for a better day, a day without walkers and wheelchairs! I NEED my life back!

For me hope has come in the form of the Israeli Brazilian Hospital Albert Einstein in Sao Paulo Brazil. They have accepted me for a hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The cost of the procedure is 200,000 Reais. I and my family live off my mothers salary and we have no way to pay for this procedure and I am running out of time! Everyday I exercise and make sure I can walk the necessary distance to be considered for the treatment but MS is unpredictable and if I wait to long the damage can be irreversible.

So this is why Im making this appeal today. In the hopes that there is someone out there who can help. Please forward this blog to your friends and family. The smallest gesture can change the world and my biggest dream is that there is someone out there willing to help me change my world and get my life back!

PLEASE HELP ME!