HSCT Warriors Zen Jen Stansbury Koenig

Warrior: Christian
AI: Multiple Sclerosis
HSCT: 11/3/23 at the Tom Baker Cancer Center in Calgary
Superpower: body awareness

What is your capacity for listening to your body? How well do you fare through complications? How comfortable are you with looking inward?

After the numbness and tingling in his legs restricted his capacity to walk in the course of just a few weeks, Christian was quickly diagnosed after finding the right doctor who knew what his symptoms were indicating. After cycling through a variety of disease-modifying therapies over the course of seven years, Christian continued relapsing. After the humbling and terrifying experience of being wheelchair-bound for a few months in December of 2022, Christian switched DMTs again and after it didn’t stop new lesions, he was eventually referred for HSCT in Calgary in June of 2023.

Tune in to learn more about the circumstances that led Christian to pursue HSCT in Calgary, and how he fared through the myeloablative protocol, including complications and resolutions. Be sure to visit our website, HSCTWarriorsPodcast.org where you can find notes from today’s episode, submit ideas or feedback, or connect with HSCT Warriors, Inc. and schedule time to “Talk with a Warrior”, find the latest research and resources, or explore information about locations. Special thanks to musical genius Billy Alletzhauser for sharing his superpowers to produce the soundtrack, and to Jacob Kinch for engineering the audio to make this podcast possible. You can find us when you subscribe on SoundCloud, iTunes or wherever you find podcasts.

It has been great to connect with Warriors worldwide, so please reach out if you’re interested in sharing your story. We would love to learn how the podcast has helped your journey with autoimmune disease so if you could take a moment, leave us a comment on instagram or share feedback on our website. We hope you’ll tune in next Wednesday for another episode, highlighting another HSCT Warrior. Until then, be a snowflake and embrace your superpowers. Be kind. Be well.
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Jen Stansbury Koenig and the producers disclaim medical influence and responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information contained herein. If you think you have a medical problem, please contact a licensed physician.

Warrior: Fiona Mitten
AI: Marburg’s variant of Multiple Sclerosis
HSCT: 12/29/2011
Superpower: living in the moment

Are you someone who believes that everything happens for a reason? How many moments do you treasure each day?

Diagnosed 18 years ago after being hit by a drunk driver, several symptoms of multiple sclerosis like optic neuritis and paralysis onset and progressed so quickly, it seems Fiona’s experience was extra unique from the start. From bouts of total paralysis that kept her hospitalized for months at a time, to relief from rounds of chemotherapy that had her walking again, to severe withdrawal that led to chemo-induced psychosis, by the time Fiona found her way to HSCT, she was struggling to walk (a requirement to pass the testing in order to qualify for HSCT).

Tune in to learn how Fiona became the third person to be transplanted outside of the trials in Calgary, how she fared with HSCT and recovery, and how she is doing twelve-plus years post-HSCT. Be sure to visit our website, HSCTWarriorsPodcast.org where you can find notes from today’s episode, submit ideas or feedback, or connect with HSCT Warriors, Inc. and schedule time to “Talk with a Warrior”, find the latest research and resources, or explore information about locations. Special thanks to musical genius Billy Alletzhauser for sharing his superpowers to produce the soundtrack, and to Jacob Kinch for engineering the audio to make this podcast possible. You can find us when you subscribe on SoundCloud, iTunes or wherever you find podcasts.

It has been great to connect with Warriors worldwide, so please reach out if you’re interested in sharing your story. We would love to learn how the podcast has helped your journey with autoimmune disease so if you could take a moment, leave us a comment on instagram or share feedback on our website. We hope you’ll tune in next Wednesday for another episode, highlighting another HSCT Warrior. Until then, be a snowflake and embrace your superpowers. Be kind. Be well.
_________________________________

Jen Stansbury Koenig and the producers disclaim medical influence and responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information contained herein. If you think you have a medical problem, please contact a licensed physician.

Warrior: Ali Strong
AI: Multiple Sclerosis
HSCT: November 2017
Superpower: boundaries

Are you someone who feels your emotions? Are you one to choose happiness? Do you find the present in every moment?

The beginning of a new season offers the opportunity to check in with Ali and how she is faring, more than six years post-HSCT. Tune in to revisit the struggles with active multiple sclerosis, hear how HSCT has shifted her symptoms and experience with MS, and learn how Ali is focusing her energy these days.

Be sure to visit our website, HSCTWarriorsPodcast.org where you can find notes from today’s episode, submit ideas or feedback, or connect with HSCT Warriors, Inc. and schedule time to “Talk with a Warrior”, find the latest research and resources, or explore the world map. Special thanks to musical genius Billy Alletzhauser for sharing his superpowers to produce the soundtrack, and to Jacob Kinch for engineering the audio to make this podcast possible. You can find us when you subscribe on SoundCloud, iTunes or wherever you find podcasts.

It has been great to connect with Warriors worldwide, so please reach out if you’re interested in sharing your story. We would love to learn how the podcast has helped your journey with autoimmune disease so if you could take a moment, leave us a comment on instagram or share feedback on our website. We hope you’ll tune in next Wednesday for another episode, highlighting another HSCT Warrior. Until then, be a snowflake and embrace your superpowers. Be kind. Be well.
_________________________________

Jen Stansbury Koenig and the producers disclaim medical influence and responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information contained herein. If you think you have a medical problem, please contact a licensed physician.

Warrior: Matt LeFrance
AI: Multiple Sclerosis
HSCT: June-July 2022
Superpower: peace of mind

How do you know what to expect? From whom do you seek feedback? How do you decide to take the next step?

Diagnosed just after college at the young age of 25 when he experienced double vision and a variety of doctors had a hard time understanding what was going on, Matt was diagnosed after a MRI revealed a lesion on his brain stem. As he pondered what was next, despite feeling as though life was ending when it should be only just beginning, Matt spent time researching his options for treatment before aging out of insurance coverage.

Tune in to learn more about Matt’s research efforts, his natural approach to managing MS for thirteen years before HSCT, and how he fared during his time in Puebla at Clinica Ruiz. Be sure to visit our website, HSCTWarriorsPodcast.org where you can find notes from today’s episode, submit ideas or feedback, or connect with HSCT Warriors, Inc. and schedule time to “Talk with a Warrior”, find the latest research and resources, or explore the world map. Special thanks to musical genius Billy Alletzhauser for sharing his superpowers to produce the soundtrack, and engineer the audio to make this podcast possible. You can find us both when you subscribe on SoundCloud, iTunes or wherever you find podcasts.

It has been great to connect with Warriors worldwide, so please reach out if you’re interested in sharing your story. We would love to learn how the podcast has helped your journey with autoimmune disease so if you could take a moment, leave us a comment on instagram or share feedback on our website. We hope you’ll tune in next Wednesday for another episode, highlighting another HSCT Warrior. Until then, be a snowflake and embrace your superpowers. Be kind. Be well.
_________________________________

Jen Stansbury Koenig and the producers disclaim medical influence and responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information contained herein. If you think you have a medical problem, please contact a licensed physician.

Resources:
Best Bet Diet and MS Hope

Warrior: Mike
AI: Multiple Sclerosis
HSCT: January 17, 2022
Superpower: acceptance and grace

Where does kindness hit you? To what extent do you seek grace? How well do you find acceptance?

We first met Mike in Season 7, shortly after he found out about HSCT. After battling with insurance and seeking HSCT at different clinics in the United States, Mike considered a variety of factors in his decision to pursue treatment in Monterrey, Mexico. As Mike works to support physical improvements despite spasticity post-transplant and a battle with COVID, he is finding room for his superpowers of acceptance and grace. Tune in to learn more about the ‘hiccups’ that Mike encountered and their resolution, as well as considerations for family and recovery.

Be sure to visit our website, HSCTWarriorsPodcast.org where you can find notes from today’s episode, submit ideas or feedback, or connect with HSCT Warriors, Inc. and schedule time to “Talk with a Warrior”, find the latest research and resources, or explore the world map. Special thanks to musical genius Billy Alletzhauser for sharing his superpowers to produce the soundtrack, and engineer the audio to make this podcast possible. You can find us both when you subscribe on SoundCloud, iTunes or wherever you find podcasts.

It has been great to connect with Warriors worldwide, so please reach out if you’re interested in sharing your story. We would love to learn how the podcast has helped your journey with autoimmune disease so if you could take a moment, leave us a comment on instagram or share feedback on our website. We hope you’ll tune in next Wednesday for another episode, highlighting another HSCT Warrior. Until then, be a snowflake and embrace your superpowers. Be kind. Be well.
_________________________________

Jen Stansbury Koenig and the producers disclaim medical influence and responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information contained herein. If you think you have a medical problem, please contact a licensed physician.

Warrior: Dr. Richard K. Burt
AI: halter
HSCT: pioneer
Superpowers: vast knowledge, being patient-centric, caring for improvement in quality of life, facilitating clarity through education, and fortitude in human spirit

With gratitude for the additional time to connect with Dr. Richard Burt and celebrate the recent publication of his latest book, Everyday Miracles: Curing multiple sclerosis, scleroderma, and autoimmune diseases by hematopoietic stem cell transplant, we’re sharing a verbatim transcript of this conversation, the second of two episodes featuring Dr. Burt, on our website, https:HSCTWarriorsPodcast.org