Personal project : People Of HSCT

[SergeiR]

Some bits from my personal project, following people who braved HSCT procedure to fight for their lives
(here is more http://www.facebook.com/facesofmultiplesclerosis/ )

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Cass is one of the older ever patients to undergo treatment.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1448/25662671985_1289379689_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/F6HUiP)HSCT People: Cass (https://flic.kr/p/F6HUiP) by Sergei Rodionov (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[SergeiR]

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1691/25361825030_0c0c8320f6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ED8YZm)HSCT People: Jen (https://flic.kr/p/ED8YZm) by Sergei Rodionov (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[SergeiR]

One of the youngest ever people to undergo HSCT, awesome spirit.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1565/25543933702_7853200245_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EVeky3)HSCT People: Mad (https://flic.kr/p/EVeky3) by Sergei Rodionov (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[SergeiR]

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1554/25543933532_c5266dc778_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EVekv7)HSCT People: Jessica (https://flic.kr/p/EVekv7) by Sergei Rodionov (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[SergeiR]

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1689/25570003851_372c0941c9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EXwXin)HSCT People: Julie (https://flic.kr/p/EXwXin) by Sergei Rodionov (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[SergeiR]

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1520/25662671695_471f3f5958_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/F6HUdP)HSCT People: Lisa (https://flic.kr/p/F6HUdP) by Sergei Rodionov (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[RSalles]

Thanks for sharing Sergei, I really - for a number of reasons - like your project, and IMO it's being driven incredible well,

Keep updating,

Cheers,

Renato

[invisibleflash]

Good to have projects...they give you direction and purpose.

[billie williams]

This is a beautiful project on many levels, Sergei. Well done.

[SergeiR]

Thanks folks.

Forgotten to specify why its LF :)

Whole project is done with Ilford's Delta (100), 4x5 film.

210mm Rodenstock & 150mm S-K lenses.

[Peter De Smidt]

It's a terrific project, Sergei!

[johnmsanderson]

This is breathtaking. Beautiful work!

[Mark Sampson]

Sergei- well done. This is a great example of what to do with your LF and people skills. Keep at it! Post some more when you have them.

[Struan Gray]

Excellent work Sergei. Humour and dignity.

[B.S.Kumar]

Wonderful work, Sergei. Your photos are direct and honest, and almost physically radiate the patients' positive energy.

Kumar

[fishbulb]

Beautiful portraits. I have a close friend who works in the HSCT field. The patients are brave as is facing their illnesses, but to undergo stem cell transplants they are the heroes and pioneers of future generations who will need these treatments.

[ImSoNegative]

Excellent!!!!

[SergeiR]

Thanks, folks. Next batch of portraits sessions is planned up, so more coming soon.

[SergeiR]

Another set.

All of those are 150mm/2.8 Xenotar

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1591/26078723271_3c0bca907c_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/FJugRR)Faced of HSCT: JackieChuck (https://flic.kr/p/FJugRR) by Sergei Rodionov (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[SergeiR]

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1678/25540303524_41a33e3e91_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EUUJqL)Faced of HSCT: JackieJay (https://flic.kr/p/EUUJqL) by Sergei Rodionov (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[SergeiR]

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1685/26078733721_a9ff8f0860_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/FJujY2)Faced of HSCT: Jackie (https://flic.kr/p/FJujY2) by Sergei Rodionov (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[RSalles]

Sergei,

Excellent! Keep the project update, I really find it a terrific idea for a project and its being driven superbly by you,

Cheers,

Renato

[SergeiR]

Thank you, Renato.

(i still can't find negative set from one of people.. looks like i was so overloaded on first day, that i might have leave holder at the hospital . too late to recover now, but it means road trip in future to get her portrait).

[Willie]

What is HSCT?

[fishbulb]

What is HSCT?

An extremely dangerous stem-cell transplant procedure used to treat terminal/untreatable illnesses. In order for the transplant to succeed, it often requires knocking down the patient's immune system to zero during the treatment. Consequently, there are numerous complications that can arise, even just from a common cold.

My friend who works in HSCT describes it as "the last stop at the end of the line". That is, you need to be really, really, really ill before a doctor will consider it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hematopoietic_stem_cell_transplantation

[SergeiR]

What is HSCT?


An extremely dangerous stem-cell transplant procedure used to treat terminal/untreatable illnesses. In order for the transplant to succeed, it often requires knocking down the patient's immune system to zero during the treatment. Consequently, there are numerous complications that can arise, even just from a common cold.

My friend who works in HSCT describes it as "the last stop at the end of the line". That is, you need to be really, really, really ill before a doctor will consider it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hematopoietic_stem_cell_transplantation



HSCT is regiment that is been safely used for over than decade and half to treat various autoimmune diseases to stop progression. It is also used for treating cancer and now in trials for diabetic people.

It consist of chemo therapy to knock out immune system and then infusion of stem cells, gathered from adult donor.

As far as as calling it "extremely dangerous".

It is not walk in park. For cancer patients, because they have to take someone else's cells it is extremely high risk. Rejection is quite a possibility. But my brother, who died of leukemia at age of 13 (his father was amongst people who helped to put "sarcophagus" on the Chernobyl's station after it exploded to limit radiation at least somewhat) might have had a chance. Which he didn't.

For MS patients it offers lesser risks (they use own cells). Rejection cases are extremely rare so far.

It takes a single brain lesions to stop you from breathing. And that lesion might pop in at any given second. People don't like to talk about it. And doctors don't like to tell you that. But its terminal disease that can kill you at any second. And it slowly kills every single diagnosed person anyway. I seen my wife going from person who was walking with me in park for miles into person who can't walk through few steps without needing support and tiring out right away over period of year, when her progression increased. So yeah.. Its a dangerous option. But its an option vs just giving up and waiting for death, fading away. And for many of them it is end of the line. No drug so far been invented to fully stop this. And all of them are riddled with horrible side effects.

There was a reason why i started this project. And that is to actually bring people attention to all these people. And to the way that stops progression of the disease that eats away people's lives.

(sorry if i sound defensive or aggressive, no offense meant)

[Tin Can]

I met Sergei's wife Lana when she was here for Doctor interview. Sergei was not here. Lana is very brave woman and has been all her life. Lana and I had dinner and talked for hours. She told me her extremely interesting life. We became friends. I met Sergei later.

I weep when I read of HSCT and pray for the best.

God Bless both Lana and Sergei.

[SergeiR]

I met Sergei's wife Lana when she was here for Doctor interview. Sergei was not here. Lana is very brave woman and has been all her life. Lana and I had dinner and talked for hours. She told me her extremely interesting life. We became friends. I met Sergei later.

I weep when I read of HSCT and pray for the best.

God Bless both Lana and Sergei.

Thanks, Randy. We just been to Chicago for couple days, a bit of short notice this time, but we have superb news - progression stopped. And Lana got vision back in right eye :) After 10 years, man..

[fishbulb]

I am very glad to hear that Sergei - I meany no offense at all; my experience is with late-stage bone cancer patients getting transplants from other donors where rejection is a major risk... the survival rate is very low... Not so with MS thankfully. Best wishes for you and your wife!

[SergeiR]

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1482/25611437294_40d05ff195_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/F2cj25)Faces of HSCT: Carina (https://flic.kr/p/F2cj25) by Sergei Rodionov (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[SergeiR]

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1477/25611439844_a2b0c36dd8_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/F2cjM3)Faces of HSCT: Lynda (https://flic.kr/p/F2cjM3) by Sergei Rodionov (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/), on Flickr