It’s been quite some time since I last shared an update, HSCT for me has come with a fantastic side effect; getting my life back and I’m thrilled to write about how transformative this journey has been.

Before I went to Moscow my prognosis wasn’t great, my condition was going rapidly downhill, relying heavily on a wheelchair or walking stick, and facing a future that seemed uncertain except for one thing, a life of difficulty and wondering of what could have been?

Today, 9 years post treatment, I stand in a completely different world, one where I feel almost normal again. My family like to refer to me now as Alex 2.0!

The transformation has been nothing short of miraculous. Being able to play a little bit of football with my son Aiden was a dream come true. It’s a milestone that I once thought would be impossible. Now, I find immense joy and pride in simply being a very active father to Aiden and my younger son, Joel. Becoming a parent was the one big hope I had before treatment – to be a confident and active Dad is simply the best feeling in the world.

My family and friends have been incredibly relieved and supportive. The constant worry they once had has been replaced with joy in seeing me healthy and full of life. The daily struggle to get through work, dealing with pain and fatigue, is now a thing of the past. I do still experience some stiffness, but it’s a small price to pay for the freedom and ability I’ve regained.

Writing this blog has been a hugely therapeutic experience. Sharing my story has not only helped me process my journey but hearing how it has been received by so many others and many I now call friends and fellow HSCT warriors. The feedback I received was unbelievable, with many expressing how it made the treatment process more far less frightening and very doable. To know that my writing had help many others, made the effort so worthwhile.

I also want to add how grateful I am to my incredible wife, Jen. She has always been my rock and a huge source of support and energy throughout this journey. It’s not just the person with MS who suffers but also their partner. Jen had to bear the burden when I couldn’t, often facing the challenges alone. Her efforts in the fundraising and providing emotional support was beyond measure. Dealing with Multiple Sclerosis has been very much a shared experience, her strength through it all was huge, she carried the weight of my struggles alongside her own, often without complaint, that strength never wavered. Now, we can enjoy much time together again, with our boys , and she’s the one I credit in getting my life back. Thank you, Jen, for everything.

I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone, friends and family and everyone in-between, that supported me along the way. The fundraising and the incredible generosity of so many people made my treatment in Moscow possible. I’ll always be incredibly grateful to those that got me there and supported both me and Jen throughout.

The cost of treatment can be significant, but the alternative, letting MS dictate your life is far greater. I believe that the treatment is worth every penny, to continue working and living life to the fullest. If I had to go back and make the decision again, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second.

This journey has given me my life back, and I hope that by sharing my story, I can help others feel that they can take control again. If you’re considering treatment, know that you are not alone.

There are so many fantastic HSCT groups on Facebook, to all of those I’ll be forever indebted to for their source of information, stories, humour and unwavering support.

And of course to Dr Denis Fedorenko, Anastasia and their fantastic team at the A.A.Maximov Hospital for caring for me and the treatment they gave, it was a month I will never forget. Dr Fedorenko is one of the most brilliant men I’ve ever met, I was humbled to meet him and his expertise put me at absolute ease from the very start.

It is because of pioneering men like him, that one day a GP will be able to deliver a diagnosis by saying, ‘I’m afraid that it is Multiple Sclerosis …but that’s okay…’

There is hope, and there is a future beyond MS.

Thank you for reading my story, I’m so thrilled to be able to say that it ended well.

This blog is in latest post order, if you would like to start my story from the beginning please click here.

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