“I Want To Find The Michelle I Once Was”

A mum of two suffering from the mental and physical effects of severe Arthritis has launched a crowd-funding campaign to pay for stem cell therapy.

Michelle Filipe has suffered from the condition that restricts her movement for nearly 10 years.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disease that attacks the cells that line the joints by mistake.

A fundraising target of £10,000 has been set to repair those damaged joints.

She hopes this treatment will make life easier for not just her, but also her friends and family.

“When you’re in pain all the time you’re not the best person to be around sometimes because you’re tired, you’re sore and you just want to be left. In that sense, that can be quite taxing on the people that you’re living with.

“I just want to try and be a bit more fun and find the Michelle that I once was.”

The disease has caused more damage to Michelle’s joints over time, mainly down her left side, knee, hip, elbow, wrist and right elbow.

That’s affected her ability to even wash her own hair, get in the bath and walk.

That led Michelle to look for alternative treatments and discover the regenerative clinic on Harley Street in London.

The treatment for one joint costs £6,000 and £1,000 for every joint after that.

She hopes getting stem cell therapy would take the workload off her husband, who’s been incredibly supportive.

“By getting the treatment, not only can I do more with the kids, I can do more with him and for him. Just to better not just my life, but theirs as well.”

Around a quarter of the fundraising target has been raised so far.

You can find the JustGiving page here.