MS treatment trials face setback in Saskatchewan

Good news yesterday, bad news today: CTV story.

MS therapy clinical trials to get federal OK

Thanks to all those wonderful people who've gotten us to this point... together we DID make a difference: CBC story.

Senator Jane Cordy Tables CCSVI Bill S-204 in Senate

Let's hope this gets some serious attention and debate: http://on.fb.me/kd6uvC.

Weekly Digest on CCSVI and MS

A weekly news digest from the Canadian National CCSVI Society: http://paper.li/CCSVI_Society/1306484186  Check it out, sign up, stay current!

The Liberation Day Song

This is what my wife and friends composed and sang to me at my Liberation Day Anniversary party.  Some of the words are more inside jokes, but you can change them to suit your situation... enjoy!

Help the New Hope for MS Tour!

Hey, if you or anyone you know is interested in promoting CCSVI research and treatment, please see the New Hope for MS web site and think about giving the tour a donation or helping out by organizing an event.  There are still many places west of Toronto that need people to help organize presentations, so if you can lend a hand, please contact Deirdre FitzGerald at deirdref6@gmail.com or 705-431-1463.

My jugulars are (mostly) open

I'm back from my ultrasound at the EMMC in Bangor.  Chris Willis did the work on me - and it was a great experience.  He was professional, thorough and very informative, explaining things to me in layman's terms so that I understood what he was doing and what the implications might be (from a purely technical perspective, and as far as anyone can tell in these early days of CCSVI science).  I would recommend their service to any of my friends.  I appear to have some reflux in both jugulars, but not much and in the stented jugular I think he felt it could be expected.  I'll be getting the full report after the doctor reviews the scans so I'll let you know more at that time.

CBC story on CCSVI treatment

Here is a story about the Liberals' call for CCSVI trials that includes an interview with Tim Donovan who is back on his New Hope for MS tour: http://bit.ly/mAvcxW

Wendy Smith treated for CCSVI, symptoms improve

Wendy has been working with our organizing group for the New Hope for MS tour across Canada.  See her story on a CBC newscast here (her story is between the 2:00 and 5:00 minute marks on the video).

Liberals Call for Clinical Trials for CCSVI and Multiple Sclerosis

Well, the Liberals are still on our side: http://bit.ly/miewu0.  Does the NDP have an official stance on this issue?  Quite a few of their members have spoken out about it, but I can't find anything official on their web-site.  In fact, since there is no "search" function on their web site, it's hard to find anything there.

Dr. Hubbard speaks to MS Society members in Toronto

Though it may take a while for it to make a difference, it appears that meaningful dialogue is possible: http://on.fb.me/l1FDD4.

New Brunswick Multiple Sclerosis Assistance Program

It won't help me or others who went abroad before April 1st of this year, but I'm sure that it will be appreciated by those who need it: http://www.gnb.ca/0162/programs/MS/index-e.asp.

Salmon fishing today

This was another thing I thought I would never have the chance to do again. Ain't life grand?

N.B. doctors urge caution over MS treatment

So our own medical association is weighing in on this now: CBC story.  Notice the incorrect interpretation of the data and the scare tactics.  Do they realize how much credibility they lose when they purposefully misrepresent the research, or is it just plain ignorance?  Shame on them!  It makes you wonder what other issues they are misrepresenting to us, the public.  There are some good, thoughtful comments from some of the readers, though.

Things are going well

I have lots of energy these days (no naps for over two weeks!) and the strength on my left side seems to be better.  I have my up and down days, but so far the trend is towards slowly increasing improvement.  I bike at least a half hour every day in this nice weather we're having.

Now ain't this interesting!

Researchers in Montreal have discovered this interesting link between the vascular and nervous systems: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110608131330.htm.  Will this lead to therapy for the regeneration of a damaged nervous system?

Interesting CCSVI News

In case you haven't read these before, here are some interesting stories concerning CCSVI and it's treatment:

• Presentation at the European Neurological Society
• Dr. Hubbard and others invited to speak to MS Society of Canada
• The New Hope for MS tour continues to gather steam!

Life goes on...

Wow, it's been a week since my last posting... I wonder if I've lost my audience?  :-)

Life goes on for me: lots of little projects, lots of exercise (biking at least a half hour every day since the nice weather started, workouts every night) and quite a bit of thinking about the future because I've been offered (and accepted) a bit of an early retirement at the end of the year.  It's great that I am able to make my retirement decision based on what I want to do rather than what I have to do.  Just over a year ago, before the procedure, I didn't think I would be able to work this last winter.  Now I'm retiring on my own terms, and am looking forward to enjoying the rest of my life: enjoyable projects, travel and catching up on all those books I haven't read and movies I haven't seen.  The future?  Bring it on!