HSCT Hope Team

HSCT Stemmie Birthday July 15, 2019 – Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

My name is Cassidy Chapman. I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis during my first year of law school, the day before my 23rd birthday, in early 2004. There were only four DMTs on the market when I was diagnosed, so I was put on the strongest one, Rebif, and always remained on the strongest, most effective DMT for the next 15 years. My MS disabled me in 2015 from practicing law and I ultimately failed a total of five DMTs before I received HSCT at Northwestern Medicine in July of 2019 with Dr. Richard K. Burt. I spent the next two years of recovery devoted to doing everything suggested by doctors and what I could think of so that I could regain as much function as possible. Not only has HSCT stopped my MS, but I have recovered beyond all expectations. I continue to work every day toward my goal of no longer being disabled. After suffering through miserable side effects from DMTs that did not work, I know that HSCT should be a first line treatment for MS and other autoimmune diseases because of its high efficacy rate.

HSCT Stemmie Birthday February 17, 2022 – Clinica Ruiz, Monterrey, Mexico

I was diagnosed Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis in 2014, after a misdiagnosis in 2004.

In my previous life, I was very active in different summer / winter sports, nature lover, and a visual artist. I volunteered in different fields of passion. My career centred around rental property management in a large vacation destination.

I had five different MS drugs before HSCT. Nothing worked, and I continued to relapse and decline. As a last ditch effort my family/friends pushed me to try HSCT. It worked! Unfortunately I relapsed @5-6 month and used on B-cell depleters for 2 years. I have been relapse free so far.

My symptoms affect me from neck down with a high degree of sensory dysfunction and pain. My EDSS was quite high before HSCT and I was dependent on a mobility scooter. A few months after HSCT I began to walk short distances and drive again. This was an incredible experience and improved my quality of life immensely. I still need devices for longer distances or bad days.

Yoga and para dressage (equestrian) are my outlets for exercise. I'm also a daily chess player.

Personal Blog:
https://ms.jennyangus.com/

My name is Tom Donahue. I was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis in 2003. I only had a couple of symptoms the first ten years, which I handled well with exercise and weight-training. The last ten years have not been as good. My body failed miserably with both Ocrevus and Aubagio. Fortunately, a friend talked about her autoimmune disease and mentioned her research on HSCT. I had HSCT in Puebla, Mexico in July of 2023. Both the care team and the facilities were world class! My only regret is not doing it sooner. I’m convinced that HSCT stopped the progression of my MS and now its up to me to patiently retrain my brain to create new pathways from my brain to the damaged areas so that I can improve my balance and gait issues. Neuroplasticity is remarkable that way! I am a big believer in HSCT as a frontline treatment to address many autoimmune diseases, but especially MS. I live in the Midwest and am honored to be on the board supporting HSCT Hope!

Jim joined the board in 2025 after providing informal professional guidance early on. He is a fractional Controller and provides accounting services as Principal of Somers Consultants LLC in Chicago, IL. He has been responsible for managing the accounting for a variety of entities, including nonprofits, real estate, art production, retail, services, and product development and sales.

Jim has an MBA from the University of Chicago and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois. Having started and operated his own businesses, he brings an entrepreneurial hands-on ownership mentality to all his endeavors. His passion is to assist young and growing organizations in taking their operations to the next level of success in fulfilling their mission.

My name is Julie Styers. I was diagnosed with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis in October of 2020. Right after the diagnosis, I found an article about HSCT. I decided to start with a DMT first and make lifestyle changes. When that didn’t work and I failed my 4th DMT, Rituxan, I started looking into clinical trials. In January 2023, I applied for Dr. Richard Burt's Clinical trial for HSCT at Scripps in La Jolla California. I completed HSCT in September 2023. I was Scripp’s 2nd patient with MS to receive HSCT. I hope I can use my experience to help others as well as bring awareness to HSCT for those with autoimmune diseases.

My name is Anna Mosca. I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis in January 2022 after a massive relapse starting in late November of 2021. I began Ocrevus with high hopes that it would set everything right, however, when it became clear that there was no better in my future, I began to seek other treatments. I found HSCT in an online support group and decided to pursue it. After being rejected by the BEAT-MS clinical trial in the States, and there being no chance my insurance company would help me off-trial, I raised funds and headed to Clinica Ruiz in Puebla, Mexico. I was transplanted on December 4, 2022 and though I’m still in recovery, I have seen many improvements and on my MRI, one lesion has visibly shrunk. I am proud to be on the board of HSCT Hope, Inc. and want to see HSCT offered as a treatment option for all autoimmune diseases it is shown to stop at diagnosis. I am a dog groomer in rural Maine and a married mom with two teenagers.

My name is Jennifer Lancaster Jairdullo. I was diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP ) in 2010 and spent five years in a wheelchair. I went through Dr. Burt’s stem cell clinical trial in September 2012 in Chicago. And I have gotten better every day since then, even 15 years later. I am so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to be one of his patients. I am here to help others to the same miraculous part two in life that I was given.

David Fleming, HSCT December 2024, Clinica Ruiz, Puebla, Mexico

I was diagnosed with MS (possibly PPMS) in January 2023. My career of 22 years was as a Firefighter. In my pre-HSCT life, I used to regularly play soccer and rugby Nowadays, I'm an avid spectator.

I keep myself active by hitting the gym 3-5x/week, and walking up to a mile with my sticks.

I don't believe HSCT is a cure, however, benefit can be attained with a lot of hard work post-HSCT.

Personal IG: @dvg_fleming