FIONA Ward misses the feeling of holding her three children by the hand and walking them through the school gate each morning.
The devoted mother and wife to police officer Michael Ward has multiple sclerosis, a debilitating disease that affects the central nervous system.
For the past five years, the Bundaberg Catholic mum has fought the ugly monster without victory.
“Obviously there was a whirlwind of emotions when I was first diagnosed (in November of 2010),” Mrs Ward said.
“We were just a young family, and it was devastating to get the diagnosis.”
The disease has left her wheelchair bound, relying on a walking cane, and forced to retire
from the police service after 14 years.
She has just one simple wish for 2016.
“All I want is to walk my kids into school,” Mrs Ward said.
“My little boy has done Prep this year, and I just wanted to be there with him but I couldn’t.”
An overseas procedure in Mexico could make her dream of walking her children to school a reality by May next year for a costly $100,000.
Known as Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant, the treatment has successfully beaten MS using the patient’s adult stem cells.
The treatment also featured in the 2013 Vatican Adult Stem Cell Conference, when MS sufferer Roxane Beygi shared a brave testimony of miraculous improvement two years after undergoing a trial of the treatment in Chicago.
But as Australia does not offer the treatment, Mrs Ward will travel to Mexico with husband Michael in March for a five-week treatment, which will include a blast of chemotherapy as well as the adult stem cell transplant.
“Obviously the sooner the better for me because the MS is progressively getting worse, and is affecting my walking at the moment,” she said. With the financial strain burdening the young family, Mrs Ward has opened up an online fundraising webpage and is asking for support from the wider community.
The campaign will pay for the cost of the procedure, airfares and care for her children who will stay home while Mum is undergoing treatment.
She has already received more than $70,000 in funds for her life-changing treatment.
The school Mrs Ward one day hopes to walk through has also rallied their own staff and parents to give generously to their neighbouring family. The Wards’ parish at Holy Rosary Church, Bundaberg, has also chipped in.
“My two girls have liturgies and prayers done for me, and every day they come home with prayers from the school,” Mrs Ward said.
“We had no idea that everyone knew who we were. There have been many nights of tears from the overwhelming emotions.
“The prayer and support that has come through is just beautiful.”
As donations and prayer petitions continue to flow in, Mrs Ward has already set her mind on an active future without MS.
“I won’t return to the police force, but I would love to get back into the community, even just to volunteer,” she said.
“I want to be out there and helping people.”
To help go to https://www.gofundme.com/aa7ydjss.
By Emilie Ng
