Newry mum's fight to beat MS with life-changing treatment giving her more time with family

A Northern Ireland mum is on a mission to beat multiple sclerosis with a life-changing treatment that will allow her more time caring for her family.

Lissara Fox, 48, from Newry is a proud mum of three amazing children: 23-year-old Jack; Katie, 20, and 18-year-old Jamie.

Last September she was diagnosed with MS, an unforgiving autoimmune disease that currently has no cure, only an array of disease-modifying treatments that come with significant side effects and limited promise of halting its progression.

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But as she faced this devastating diagnosis, Lissara's biggest fear was not the challenging health journey, instead it was her daughter Katie.

"Though my kids are growing into young adults, Katie will always need my love and care. She faces her own set of challenges due to a rare chromosomal abnormality and she needs constant care.

"My husband, Eddie, and I have always shared one deep-seated fear about what will happen when we’re no longer here to care for her," Lissara explained.

"The reality is that no one will ever fight for or love Katie like I can. This is why I need to be the healthiest, strongest version of myself, and I will not allow MS to stand in the way.

"I have an incredible opportunity to undergo Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT), a treatment that could reset my immune system, much like some cancer therapies do.

"This life-changing procedure will take place at Clinica Ruiz in Puebla, Mexico, which is renowned as one of the best and most affordable providers in the world, next May."

Lissara set up a GoFundMe page last week towards her treatment, which has already smashed her £50,000 target so she can continue caring for Katie, for many years to come.

"While HSCT could cost up to £150,000 in the UK privately and is rarely covered by the NHS, the cost in Mexico is approximately £50,000. This treatment holds the promise of giving me a life free from the constant fear of relapse and the limitations imposed by MS," she added.

"Thanks to the generosity of so many, it means that hope can become my reality. This support will not just fund the medical procedure; it will also give me another chance at life—one where I can continue to love and care for Katie for many decades to come."

This is not the first time that Lissara has defied the odds. A near death experience in a head-on collision changed Lissara's perspective on life. She was made painfully aware that life was short, precious and needed to be lived to the full after being told she would never walk again following the horrific smash in 1998.

She explained: "After a severe spinal cord injury from a car accident in my 20s left me temporarily paralyzed, I was told I would never walk again. But I proved the doctors wrong through sheer resilience and determination. I’m determined not just to survive MS, but to thrive. This battle is one I’m ready to fight with everything I have, and HSCT is my path forward."

Even though Lissara has reached her target, she plans to keep on going and has some fundraising events planned.

"Your support will go directly towards funding my HSCT treatment and related costs. Every contribution, no matter the size, has brought me closer to a future where MS no longer dictates my life. Your generosity means the world to me and gives me the strength to keep pushing forward," she added.

You can donate to Lissara's fundraiser here.

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