23 Mar 2017, 4:30 p.m.

A Wandiligong MS sufferer has started treatment she hopes will change her life

LOCKDOWNS, an asthma attackand 17 million stem cells have formed part of a Wandiligong womans ongoing medical experience in India.

Emma Bennett and her mother Gail are now unable to leave Artemis Hospital in Gurgaon for seven days as part of the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Miss Bennett, who has multiple sclerosis, could not access this procedure in Australia and so her family and community raised about $45,000 to make her trip possible.

Ms Bennett said on Thursday her daughter was in her third day of chemotherapy after the medical team retrieved 17 million stem cells earlier this week.

That was good, now they finish the chemo then reintroduce her own cells and hopefully that will go well, she said.

We have had hundreds of messagesfrom home and we have your readers to thank as well for getting us here.

Emmas sister Penny, speaking from her Wangaratta workplace, said the trip encountered a problem when a planned wheelchair on arrival didnt eventuate.

To the familys relief, airline staff provided extra assistance, staying with the pair as they went through customs and security and then helping them find an English-speaking taxi driver.

The day after flying into Delhi, Miss Bennett and her mother visited the Taj Mahal.

That was Emmas one request because when she was younger she used to travel a lot and (MS) put a stop to that, Penny said.

Early in the trip Ms Bennett suffered an asthma attack, possibly brought on by stress and pollution, but the hospital staff cared for her as well as her daughter.

Penny said Miss Bennetts treatment had produced some side effects, such as fever chills and not feeling well.

Nothing has stopped her eating yet, but knowing my sister, nothing will, Penny said with a laugh.

Im probably still very nervous for the next few sections because chemo is a huge thing for anybody, but the doctors are saying its going really well.

They seem like they quite genuinely really care and theyre being really good with her and she seems quite happy, its been good.

Miss Bennetts progress can be followed on the Ems MS Journey Facebook page while donations can still be made at gofundme.com/ems-ms-journey.

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Wandiligong MS sufferer undergoes stem cell treatment in India - The Border Mail