Nicola hopeful Mexican stem cell treatment could happen

Nicola hopeful Mexican stem cell treatment could happen

21 September 2016

A DOWNPATRICK woman has real hope she may walk again following a huge local reaction to her campaign to secure potentially life-changing treatment.

Thirty five year-old Nicola Feenan has this week spoken of her relief after a number of local groups pledged to support her bid to raise £50,000 for revolutionary stem cell treatment in Mexico.

Diagnosed with MS nine years ago, the mother of two is now wheelchair bound with agonising back pain.

Having read news reports about the life-changing impact of HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation) on fellow MS sufferers, Nicola has added her name to a 12-month waiting list for the gruelling regime of chemotherapy and stem cell treatment.

Because she does not qualify for HSCT in the UK, she needs to raise £50,000 over the next year to fund the treatment in a specialist Mexican clinic.

Having attempted to hide the disease from friends and family as it has taken hold, Nicola admits she was nervous about “coming out” about the extent of her disability by launching the campaign three weeks ago.

But with Downpatrick Boxing Club this week pledging to help her, friends of the club offering to run the Dublin marathon in her name, the potential of a Strictly Come Dancing event, a fundraising Christmas run and a Night at the Races, Nicola said she feels, for the first time in almost a decade, that there is hope for her future health.

Overwhelmed by the support of Emmanuel McMenamin, from Downpatrick Boxing Academy, who contacted her to offer his support this week, Nicola said he made her feel that the £50,000 goal was achievable.

Emmanuel will hold a collection for Nicola at a fight night at Downpatrick Cricket Club this Saturday evening and has also offered to host a full fight night for her, while club members will run the Dublin marathon for her cause.

“It is such a relief to have them on board,” said Nicola.

“It is unbelievable that people will give their time to help. It has been stressful since we launched the campaign, but now that it has taken off we feel so hopeful.

“Before I was worrying about what I would do in the future, how will I manage with two children going forward, but now it really feels like this is going to happen.

“Emmanuel is used to fundraisers and he said once the people of Downpatrick are on board we will be flying. He said they are so kind and generous and we are starting to really see that. I cannot believe the kindness shown.”

Nicola’s sister Gillian, who is running the campaign Help Nicola Beat MS, said she too felt relieved to have the boxing club on board and urged anyone interested in helping Nicola to contact her via the Facebook page.

”Sometimes I feel there is a huge mountain to climb and I do feel under pressure to hit the target so that when Nicola’s name gets to the top of the waiting list we are ready to send her to Mexico,” she said.

“While we have been given a timeline of 12-15 months for HSCT, we are also aware there is a shorter cancellation list and we would like to be ready for that as the fear is that if we wait too long Nicola may not be considered eligible.

“I am worried we won’t reach the target but after speaking to Emmanuel I have hope.

“Just three weeks ago Nicola decided to go for the treatment, now we believe it is actually going to happen.”

Emmanuel, meanwhile, has urged local people to support collectors for the Help Nicola Beat MS campaign and said there will be collection buckets for her at Downpatrick Cricket Club this Saturday night as well as plans for a street collection the following weekend.

“”I would just ask people to look out for us as we need to push this quickly before Nicola reaches the top of the list,” he said.

“This is a local girl who has two children and I know the people of Downpatrick will want to give whatever support they can. This is a brilliant cause and could potentially open doors for other people. I think this is going to get big, Downpatrick is more generous than nobody could ever know.”

The public can Help Nicola Beat MS through her Just Giving page or through her Facebook links.