Louise's fight for her future.

MS is an auto-immune disease, where the body's immune system turns on itself and attacks the Myelin Sheath which protects and facilitates the conduction of electrical impulse's through the nerve cells. The damage results in the scarring and hardening, they call lesions and this is what I was being shown. In its early stages it was typically an invisible disease which I was able to disguise quite well, which maybe aided my denial for around 2 years. Denial was short lived though as the disease progressed bringing the crushing fatigue, speech problems, choking, joint pain, foot drop and a left side that on occasions is simply along for the ride as it's too weak to be of much use. For more information you can view the following website : www.mssociety.org.uk/hsct

There is currently no cure for MS but a standard treatment for cancer has been scientifically proven to halt the progression of the disease.. HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation) has been available in a small number of facilities world wide for several decades. It involves chemotherapy so has risks but has been found to halt the disease by rebooting the immune system and figures quoted suggest a 70% success rate of sustaining improvement over 5 years.

Clinica Ruiz, Puebla, Mexico is my centre of choice as I was rejected for treatment in the UK due to the strict criteria which interestingly meant I was too advanced for Sheffield and not advanced enough for London. Mexico and HSCT is my only option to receive the gift of hope for an MS free future but it is expensive and as a single parent I do not have the means to fund it even with the support I am currently receiving from an extraordinary group of people.

I have been physically active all my life. At 7 years of age I began 5 years of competitive gymnastics until an accident halted that chapter. However to strengthen the injured joint I started ballet classes which very quickly led to a lifelong love of dance. I was accepted on a 3 year diploma course at the Bird College of performing arts in Kent and from there I joined P&O cruise ship MV Oriana as a dancer in the Stadium Theatre Company and as Entertainments Officer.

I travelled the world for 5 amazing years performing in ridiculously high heels on rolling sea's,, something I miss so much now I can only wear laced up flats. When I left in 2001 it was to pursue a life long dream of teaching and choreographing professionally, I achieved this and also started my own dance academy which has been an absolute joy. I am also fortunate enough to teach at the prestigious Italia Conti Associates in Hull. The special bond I have with my students is something I am especially proud of, 2 of those students being my own daughters Grace 15 and Molly 12. I feel blessed to have them and since my diagnosis they have been an immeasurable source of love and support.

My girls are my reason for fighting this awful disease my love for them and my determination to dance again will carry me through the tough times ahead. I truly believe our future will be brighter, my body will recover and I WILL DANCE AGAIN!

I never imagined that I would be posting on a crowd funding page to ask for financial support to travel 5481 miles for a life changing treatment, but it's a huge amount of money £41,273.94 for the basic programme, any additional medication or hospitalisation, drug infusions following the treatment, a carer to travel with me, this is a requirement of the clinic, and flights there and back (it is recommended to come home business class to be able to rest fully from the treatment). These are all an additional cost. There is a saying known to MS'ers 'Time is Brain' and I live in hope of wearing high heels again when I walk my girls down the aisle but its a race against time for me, so to you for reading my story and for any contribution however small, Grace, Molly and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts, you are lighting the spark for a brighter future........

Much love, Louise Canning (Formerly Leck ) xxx