COFFEE MORNING FOR ANTONIA
A fundraising event took place in Enniscorthy last weekend in aid of a young local man who hopes to travel to the UK for potentially life-changing stem cell treatment.
Antonio Iannetta, who is 34, was diagnosed with MS in 2017 and speaking to this newspaper on Friday at the fundraiser, he said the class of the illness he has is ‘primary progressive’.
‘Only 8 per cent of people have this form of MS,’ he said.
‘It’s going to get worse before it gets better, basically,’ he added.
Despite having a very upbeat and positive attitude Antonio is fully aware of the seriousness of his condition but he is hopeful that if he can receive the stem cell treatment in the UK it will help stabilise his illness and get him back on his feet.
‘I’m hoping that it will help with my mobility,’ he said.
‘I’m hoping it will give me a better quality of life,’ he added.
The significant thing about the stem cell treatment is that the first appointment is very important.
‘You can’t miss the first appointment when you get it,’ said Antonio.
‘It’s a case of just going when you get the word,’ he added.
If everything goes according to plan he’s hoping to get word to travel to Britain in November of December.
‘I’m in the Royal Hospital in Donnybrook at the moment for physio and that’s going really well,’ he said.
‘It’s a therapy group so I am up there for six weeks,’ he added.
‘I love it up there and it keeps me occupied and they help with everything up there so it’s the best place for me to be.’
The stem cell treatment will be done through the HSE and the NHS.
‘ The HSE will organise the first appointment and then if you get the appointment it’s to back over for two weeks and then get the stem cells done,’ said Antonio.
‘I am more than happy to get it done because it’s my last option,’ he added.
While he is not sure of what the overall cost of the entire procedure will be he hopes to set up a
From Enniscorthy, Antonio’s mam ran a chipper in Cathedral Street and he is grateful for the support he has received from the local community.
While he was diagnosed in 2017, he said ‘it’s been a long battle since 2013’ when he first knew something wasn’t right.
‘I’m doing this fundraiser to get my first appointment in England,’ said Antonio.
‘I’m hoping to set up a GoFundme page and the target will be €10,000 and that would cover the travel and accommodation for the year as well,’ he said.
‘ The hospital will pay for everything else but you have to pay for the first appointment,’ he added.
Antonio hopes to receive his treatment in Hammersmith Hospital and will deal with the one hospital throughout his treatment.
He is currently in his second year studying a level 5 business and information course with VTOS in Enniscorthy and his fellow students showed up at the fundraiser to give him their support as did some of the tutors from VTOS.
When asked if there will be other fundraising events taking place Antonio said: ‘Well this is the main one just to help me get over there because when they ring you have to go.’
Antonio is very appreciative of the support he has received from the local community including local businesses who sponsored him and also the management and staff in the Presentation Centre.