Fighting for Hope: A Multiple Sclerosis Patient's Journey to Stem Cell Treatment and Advocacy
When Tracy Love was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999, she faced a future of limited treatment options and debilitating symptoms. Today, she stands as both a testament to the potential of stem cell therapy and a powerful advocate for patients' rights to access innovative treatments.
Early Struggles with Traditional Treatments
After her diagnosis, Tracy was presented with the standard treatment options available at the time - injectable drugs known as the "ABC drugs" (Avonex, Betaseron, and Copaxone). What followed was a frustrating journey through medications with severe side effects and limited efficacy.
"They were the ABC drugs... major depression, horrible sites where I would inject. I had intentions, and my body was sore," Tracy recalls. "At that point I'm looking into the drugs. There's a 30% efficacy rate on these, and they were all black box label drugs."
Her experience with traditional treatments deteriorated further when a new infusion drug was fast-tracked to market, only to be withdrawn after patients died from complications. Eventually, her neurologist concluded that her body simply couldn't tolerate the available FDA-approved treatments, leaving her as what she calls a "no option patient."
The Turn to Stem Cell Treatment
By her early thirties, Tracy was struggling to care for her two small children due to overwhelming fatigue and cognitive difficulties. Her search for alternatives led her to learn about stem cell therapy through a Fort Worth policeman who was pursuing the treatment.
The results of her first treatment in Costa Rica were transformative. "I remember just clarity coming in. It was like everything came into focus with my brain, and it was the first real hope that any of us had had in a long time," Tracy shares. "I could get outside, I could stay outside and go to the pool with her. I mean, massive quality of life improvement for me."
Becoming an Advocate
Tracy's positive experience with stem cell therapy inspired her to help others. She co-founded Patients for Stem Cells, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating people about treatment options and advocating for broader access to stem cell therapy.
Her advocacy work has included:
Fighting for the extension of Right to Try laws
Working at state and federal levels to change regulations
Educating legislators about different types of stem cell treatments
Testifying at the Capitol about her experience
The Ongoing Battle for Access
Despite her success with the treatment, Tracy still faces significant obstacles. "It's sad to think that we have preventative treatments. We have a twelve minute IV push that you can do once a year, maybe to sustain health. And it's fighting against the FDA to allow us to do something... I've been doing stem cell treatment since 2008. Absolutely zero side effects. Only benefits from it, but to this day, I still have to fly out of the country for a twelve minute IV push."
Tracy points out that the resistance to making stem cell treatments more accessible often comes down to economics: "The average MS drug is $78,000 a year... When you talk about getting rid of rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, MS, go through those drugs and do the math. That's what we're up against."
Looking to the Future
Tracy continues to advocate for change in the healthcare system, pushing for more patient-centered care and broader access to stem cell treatments. Her vision includes:
Making stem cell therapy available as a preventative treatment
Restructuring healthcare to be more patient-focused
Creating self-funded insurance options that cover regenerative medicine
Building awareness through patient stories and real-world evidence
Her journey from patient to advocate exemplifies the potential of stem cell therapy not just as a treatment, but as a catalyst for transforming healthcare delivery and patient empowerment.
