August 22 event will help fund participation in clinical study for Multiple Sclerosis

Michelle Heffernan Schwartzhoff of Dorchester has had Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for more than half of her 46 years of life. Diagnosed 25 years ago, her family says she feels fortunate that those outside of her family and close friends were not aware of her MS because her symptoms were mainly sensory and noticed only by her until just about four years ago. Now, she uses a cane to help her walk and progressively struggles with daily pain and the accomplishment of day-to-day tasks.
In an effort to potentially alleviate some of her symptoms, Schwartzhoff has been selected to take part in a StemGenex Adult Adipose Clinical Study for Multiple Sclerosis in California in September of this year. She has a place reserved for her in the study, and her family is in the process of helping her raise the funds necessary to maintain her place in that study.
As part of that fundraising effort, Schwartzhoff’s parents, Larry and Kay Heffernan of Churchtown in the rural Lansing area, along with her two sisters, Dawn Thorsten and Toni Young, and additional family members and friends will be conducting a Garage Sale and Silent Auction Benefit event at Good Fellas Bar in Waukon Saturday, August 22. Additional details about that event can be found in the Garage Sales section on the Classifieds Pages in this week’s issue of The Standard. Additionally, a GoFundMe page has been established online for further fundraising.
Schwartzhoff currently works for Dell in its Healthcare Consulting Group. She and her husband, Tim, are both 1987 graduates of Waukon High School. They have three sons, Bret, Carson and Conner, and one grandson.