Couple battle MS on Russian front

Dunsborough residents prepare to travel to Russia to take part in stem cell treatment.

Dunsborough residents Klaus Kleinschmidt and Trish Edwards are preparing to travel to Russia to take part in stem cell treatment with the hopes it will halt the progression of Mr Kleinschmidt's multiple sclerosis.

The couple will travel to St Petersburg on July 20 so Mr Kleinschmidt can undergo a hematopoietic stem cell transplant, a treatment that involves removing stem cells from bone marrow and undergoing intense chemotherapy to "wipe out" the immune system before the stem cells are reinserted.

Mr Kleinschmidt was diagnosed with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis about 5 1/2 years ago and Ms Edwards said the theory was that the treatment would halt the progression of the disease.

"Anything else is a bonus," she said.

Recovery after the treatment is painful and dangerous and Mr Kleinschmidt will have to spend days in isolation.

Stem cell treatment is being trialled in Australia and around the world, but at 69 Mr Kleinschmidt would not meet the requirements for an Australian trial.

Ms Edwards said there were options to go to other countries for the treatment, but said the doctor they were going to see in Russia reportedly had a good success rate.

A haematologist in Perth will follow Mr Kleinschmidt's progress once he returns to Australia, but stem cell treatment remains controversial.

MS Society WA chief executive Marcus Stafford told the _Times _ the organisation was concerned with some of the risks attached to the treatment. "We find ourselves looking at the balance between rights (of patients) and risks," he said.

Mr Stafford said the MS Society was very supportive of clinical trials in Australia, but was concerned about some of the treatment going on around the world.

But for Mr Kleinschmidt and Ms Edwards, any chance to halt the progression of MS was worth the risk. They have met with others who have made the trip to Russia to undergo stem cell treatment by the same doctor and are encouraged by the stories they've been told.

Mr Kleinschmidt said his main concern was that his symptoms did not get worse.

The trip - and treatment - don't come cheap, however.

The couple were planning to sell their property to fund the treatment, but the date of the trip was brought forward and the price was brought up, so they turned to their superannuation to cover the costs.

Even then they have a shortfall of several thousand dollars.

A raffle held during the Lions Easter fair this year drew a lot of support from local businesses and there is also a raffle being held through Dunsborough Holiday Homes (call for tickets), with a week in an Exmouth holiday house for two people, including airfares, the first prize.

A GoFundMe page has also been set up and can be found at www.gofundme.com/vsmu88 , with the motto "no wheelchair for Klaus".

While the risks and costs are high, the couple agree the trip will be worth it.

"It's a little bit scary, but it's good," Mrs Edwards said.

"What else do you do, really?"