Poland and the Fly for MS visit on September 22, 2010

A visit to Poland makes up part 7 of the continuing series on Fly for MS. 

1. MS Awareness Flight Intro
2. Departure from New York
3. Flights from Canada to Denmark
4. Talinn, Estonia
5. Making a major difference in Moldova
6. Back home in Romania

Following their successful visit to Romania, the Fly for MS crew flew on to Poland on September 22nd, landing at Babice Airport near the Polish capital city of Warsaw. According to the Polish Multiple Sclerosis Association, there are at least 50,000 people, and possibly more than 60,000 people, with Multiple Sclerosis in Poland.  Of those, only 6,000 are members of the Polish MS Association. The association consists of 10 employees with around 200 volunteers assisting. 

The state of MS treatment in Poland is very poor with MS patients facing many roadblocks and regulations limiting care. According to the Polish MS Association, care is focused only on patients between the ages of 16 and 40, leaving those younger or older with little to no care for their MS symptoms.   Even those within the approved age group are limited to have their treatment costs covered for only 36 months, leaving most without the ability to afford treatment beyond the 3 year period.  

Andrei and the rest of the Fly for MS crew are hoping that their visit will help to spur a better understanding of the disease and required treatment by the government and health agencies.  The current time and age limits for treatment are not in line with the progression of the disease and do very little for any long-term benefits or quality of life improvement.  

During the visit, they met with a reporter that has been covering Multiple Sclerosis in Poland and helped her to better understand the disease and treatment offered in many other countries.  The crew also helped bring attention to Anna Bartuszek, an MS patient, advocate and author. A book written about her experiences living with MS, titled “Beast Defeated” was being released the following day, September 23rd. 

The crew also flew multiple MS patients, including one who was wheelchair bound.  The Fly for MS pilot, Pete, carried her into the airplane so that she could experience the joy of flying in a general aviation airplane and helping to give her hope for dealing with her MS.  

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