Mount Gambier’s Sarah McDowell is seeking assistance to raise funds for her $95,000 Multiple Sclerosis (MS) treatment.
Ms McDowell will travel to Mexico to undergo the potentially life-saving treatment, which costs $85,000 and she must also pay for her flight and a carer to remain with her during the four-week treatment, bumping the cost up to approximately $95,000.
To help fund the expensive treatment, Ms McDowell created a GoFundMe page, ‘Sarah & Cali beat MS together’, which has now raised $14,596.
“People have been fantastic helping to support that,” Ms McDowell said.
“It is fantastic – it really is – and it is lovely to see names pop up that I recognise and people who I have taught many years ago who are now adults and living their full lives, so it is just lovely to see their names on there as well, it is very heart-warming.”
Ms McDowell works as a high school teacher at Tenison Woods College and was diagnosed with MS at the end of December 2017, which she said was terrifying.
The wheels are in motion as she has booked the time off work and will fly to Mexico in the middle of this year for the treatment.
“I am feeling emotionally quite drained from the preparation and the lead-up to it all, I just want to go through the process, have the treatment, get it done and then be on the other side of recovery where I can move on with my life and start planning for the future again,” she said.
“I know the recovery after is going to be hard for the first couple of months, but I am at the stage now where I just want to be in the recovery phase.
“And then knowing that I have done the treatment, hopefully it will be successful, and I can start moving on with my life again.”
Ms McDowell’s loyal assistance dog Cali the Border Collie has been by her side and supported her the entire way through, accompanying her to every treatment, MRI and neurological appointment.
Cali has undergone life-saving treatment herself, being the first dog in Australia to receive a $30,000 medical stoma treatment after her bowel ruptured twice in 2021, however she is now going well.
“She is a happy girl and has enjoyed many days on the beaches, swimming in the water and watching me surf,” Ms McDowell said.
“I just hope when I am away that everything goes smooth with her, she is staying with someone that I really do trust with her and then a vet clinic will help with changing her side when I away if needed, so things are coming together.”
When Ms McDowell returns from Mexico, she will be confined to house isolation for a significant period to allow her immune system to rebuild from scratch.
Ms McDowell also recently cut her hair in preparation for the stem cell transplant as she will lose her hair during the treatment.
During her recovery, she will wear a wig made from the hair of her friend’s son, Alex McDonald, who shaved his head to show his support.
Ms McDowell said every dollar donated makes the world of a difference and those who wish to support her can visit www.paypal.com/pools/c/8RCfjuMui5 or search Sarah & Cali beat MS on GoFundMe to donate online.
