Hartlepool dad already seeing improvements following pioneering MS surgery

Eric Thomson with a member of the team at the Riaz Clinic after undergoing treatment.

Eric, 50, travelled to the Riaz Clinic in Mexico on June 19 with wife Joanne to undergo life changing treatment called Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT).

The surgery offers the possibility of slowing, if not stopping, the progression of his Primary Progressive MS and improve mobility.

Eric Thomson after undergoing treatment.

Now just days after the transplant on July 3, Eric from Jowitt Road, has already said he has felt a difference, regaining some movement in his right hand.

He said: “Everything is fantastic here. My treatment has finished and I am now just undergoing regular bloods and neutropenia.

“The Clinica Ruiz team are the best I’ve ever seen. We need to tell locals if you have MS there is a fantastic option if you work hard for it.

“I am not joking when I say I have seen some superb improvements already.  “I am 6ft tall again and getting feeling in my right hand, so the guitar might be making a comeback.

Eric Thomson with wife Joanne after undergoing treatment.

“It’s amazing what 377 million stem cells do.”

Since arriving at the clinic Eric has already undergone fitness tests and bouts of chemotherapy ahead of the stem cell transplant.

His improvement in his condition is a great boost to both him and his family, who ever since his devastating diagnosis four years ago, have been forced to watch his whole life change as symptoms progressed.

Eric was told there was no treatment in this country, but friends and family rallied around Eric to raise £38,650 - the full cost of the operation.

Over the course of the campaign, led by family friend Angela Crowe, various fundraising events have been held including a Calendar Girls style calendar, a Ben Nevis Trek and numerous fundraising nights.

Angela said she is delighted that the money has been raised to cover the rest of the loan that was taken out to make up the remainder of the funds.

She said: “We held a spinning event on Sunday which raised around £200 and brought us to our target, so we are delighted. “Eric is doing amazing, he has been walking about and he hasn’t had a reaction to the chemo so far.

“He isn’t allowed to leave the clinic unless he is going for blood tests every other day.

“We are delighted that he is doing so well and are looking forward to him coming home on July 17.”