Exclusive
HELP MY SUPERHERO
A GLASGOW schoolgirl has launched an appeal to help her mum seek groundbreaking multiple sclerosis treatment in Mexico.
The treatment has been piloted at King's College in London but is not available for Progressive-Relapsing MS, the rare type that her mum has been diagnosed with.
2
Mum Sinead Kirkland, 48, was diagnosed with a rare form of MS in November 2015 after being wrongly diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome during her pregnancy with Erin.
Erin, 11, explained in a video how MS affects her mum, saying: "She has less confidence and feels more embarrassed in public.
"My dad has to do most the cooking because my mum can't use her hands for like pots and pans safely.
Dying bride, 24, marries love of her life knowing they could have just months left
"I help as much as I can but I love my mum and nothing will change that."
On the GoFundMe page where Erin's video appears, she wrote: "A lot of people know my mum, and I really shouldn’t be telling you this, but… I think she is a superhero."
Sinead told the Scottish Sun: "I started getting really bad pins and needles when I was pregnant and the doctor told me it would go away after the birth.
2
"When Erin was born I expected it would just go away but it kept getting worse.
"In hindsight, there were loads of other symptoms I had for years but had ignored as it wasn't that bad.
"In 2015, it got really bad.
"I was falling over and there was no explanation, that's when I finally got diagnosed."
Travelling to Mexico is Sinead's only real hope to slow the rate of her disease down or she fears she will be in a wheelchair in the not too distant future.
The money raised will go towards the travelling, a month of living in Mexico, the clinical treatment and help to financially support her and her young daughter for the the foreseeable future..
The Business Manager is currently still working despite having very limited use of her right hand side.
What is Progressive Relapsing MS?
Progressive-relapsing multiple sclerosis (PRMS) was described in the 1996 disease-course definitions as — steadily worsening neurologic function from the beginning with occasional relapses.
This definition was revised based on advances in the understanding of the disease process in MS and in MRI technology.
Individuals who were previously diagnosed with progressive-relapsing MS would now be considered primarily progressive MS (PPMS).
Sinead said: "I now use a walking cane to get about and I can't write.
"I sometimes get pains in my joints and find it hard to write.
"Aside from those issues, I just get really bad fatigue and it stops me from doing a lot of things".
A lot of people know my mum, and I really shouldn’t be telling you this, but… I think she is a superhero.
Erin Kirkland
Dublin-born Sinead has lived in Glasgow for 25 years and said she hopes her story will raise awareness of this innovative treatment so that the Scottish Government might consider offering it in Scotland.
For Sinead, waiting for the UK to offer it is too little too late and she hopes to fly out to Mexico during the Easter holidays next year while Erin is off school.
The mum discussed how her family have supported her and Erin: "Family have been great and really rallied round, they will help watch Erin while I go to Mexico.
"Erin is doing amazing, she is a strong wee girl.
"But I didn't want to get her hopes up about the treatment until we knew it might be worth going for.
MOST READ IN SCOTTISH NEWS
"If they money was raised sooner, I would consider going before Easter, I need to stop the progression of my symptoms as soon as possible".
Sinead's brother Barry created the GoFundMe account which has raised £15,080 in just two weeks.
The Business Manager gushed about the "kindness" people have already shown, and hope she will raise enough to get the treatment before her condition leaves her unable to work or care for herself.
To donate, visit Sinead's GoFundMe.
Dad with MS walks daughter down the aisle at her wedding after spending months learning to using a robotic exoskeleton
We pay for your stories and videos! Do you have a story or video for The Scottish Sun? Email us at scoop@thesun.co.uk or call 0141 420 5300