Published: Nov. 13, 2015
A mid-Michigan woman is among the first in the state to undergo a groundbreaking new treatment for multiple sclerosis at Sparrow Hospital, one of only two locations in Michigan offering the new drug therapy.
The drug, called Lemtrada, has been used previously to treat leukemia but was approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in December 2014 as a treatment for Patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis who have had inadequate response to two or more MS therapies.
The Sparrow Intravenous Specialty Infusion Center provided the treatment to Jamie Smith, 37, of Mt. Pleasant. Smith is a Patient of neurologist Eric Eggenberger, D.O., of the Michigan State University Health Team at Sparrow.
Smith has been on several drug therapies since her 2004 diagnosis and had been using a walker before the Lemtrada. Following the treatment, she is able to walk unassisted some days.
“My MS was taking away from being the kind of mom I want to be,” said Smith, who has six children with her husband, Mark. “By taking the Lemtrada, I can fight back. I think it’s the best thing they can give us until they can give us a cure.”
Lemtrada Patients undergo five consecutive days of eight-hour infusions. A year later, Patients receive three days of infusions.
Sparrow is uniquely equipped to offer Lemtrada because the IV Infusion Center is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, allowing Patients to schedule the long treatments with greater flexibility, said Infusion Center Manager Kim Reid.
Sparrow’s IV Infusion Center is staffed with expert intravenous Clinical Registered Nurses, Patient Care Technicians and Administrative Professionals. Collectively, the nursing team has more than 100 years of experience in many different clinical specialties.
Choose Wisely. Choose Sparrow.