The Star: April 05, 2018

The Star 7
News
Local
News
Now
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday April 5 2018
Bid for stem cell operation in Russia
Fire rages, homes at risk
• By Bridget Rutherford
LISA FISHER wants to be able
to watch her 13-year-old son
play sport, walk the dog, go to
the supermarket, and do her
housework in a day.
But the 44-year-old has to
live with severe fatigue, constant
pins and needles on her right
side, numbness, and walks with
a limp after being diagnosed
with multiple sclerosis over a
year ago.
Her condition is not yet considered
bad enough to qualify
for Government funding for
disease-modifying drugs.
So, Mrs Fisher, husband Kelvin
and son Corban are fundraising
$100,000 to get her to Moscow,
Russia, in August for a stem cell
transplant.
The procedure involves removing
Mrs Fisher’s stem cells,
giving her chemotherapy, and
reintroducing the stem cells back
into her body.
It can halt the effects of MS,
which damages nerve cells in
the brain, and can reverse the
symptoms.
“I’ll be able to go to my son’s
sports games instead of feeling
too tired to get out of bed. I’ll
be able to do the house chores
in one day. To be able to walk
the dog again – it’s just the little
things,” Mrs Fisher said.
“I don’t want to sit at home and
fall to bits. If that means going
to the other side of the world I’m
going to try and get there.”
The family set up a Givealittle
page, which has raised about
$24,000, and will hold a charity
auction at Hornby Working
Men’s Club on April 21.
Items for auction include a
signed singlet from Golden State
Warriors point guard Steph Curry,
a year’s supply of Monteith’s,
a five-night trip to Mooloolaba,
a signed Black Caps shirt and
bat, three nights accommodation
in Wanaka with ski passes, and
more.
Mr Fisher, who works for
Heinz Watties, said he teed
GOOD
CAUSE:
Lisa, Corban
and Kelvin
Fisher with
Black Caps
batting
coach Craig
McMillan’s
shirt and
a signed
cricket bat
that are
among
items up for
auction this
month to
raise money
to get her
to Russia.
PHOTO:
MARTIN
HUNTER
up a lot of the prizes through
contacts, including the Curry
singlet, which was organised
through his social basketball
team.
He said they were blown away
by the donations to raise the
$100,000.
“I’d love to be able to say we’re
in a position to be able to pay for
that, but we are not.”
COLLECTABLE: Golden
State Warriors Steph Curry’s
singlet is one of the items
up for auction.
After Mrs Fisher’s leg went
numb in October 2016, doctors
initially thought she may have
had a stroke. It was later diagnosed
as MS.
She saw a story on 60 Minutes
about Auckland woman Donna
Agnew who was going to Russia
to receive the treatment.
“I messaged her and talked to
her on the phone and she said
just do it.”
Mrs Fisher said the treatment
would take five to seven weeks.
•Tickets to the charity
auction are $100, which
include a three-course meal
and table drinks. To buy
tickets, email kfed@outlook.
co.nz. To donate visit https://
givealittle.co.nz/cause/lisaslife-changing-treatment-forms-in-russia
What’s important
for Christchurch
over the next
10 years?
Have you checked your
underfloor repairs?
This is the sort of ‘repair’
we are finding.
Every three years we review our Long Term
Plan. We want your views on how best to
manage the infrastructure and services that
make Christchurch work.
Have your say
ccc.govt.nz/ltp
We will go under your house and give you
peace of mind for free.
NO WIN
NO FEE
Ph: 03 377 8855 | 130 Ferry Road, Christchurch
E: reception@earthquakeservices.co.nz | W: www.earthquakeservices.co.nz