Vickie Butler is a woman with a mission.

Butler, 53, who last month in Mexico underwent a controversial procedure to treat her multiple sclerosis, met this week with both Elgin-Middlesex-London Tory MP Joe Preston and Liberal MPP Steve Peters in her quest to make the treatment available -- and paid for by OHIP -- in Ontario.
"I want the Ontario government to start doing this. As far as I understand, it's about $1,500 OHIP would cover. It's not nearly as expensive as what it's costing thousands who are flocking to other countries."

Butler, herself, was forced to pay $21,000 plus airfare out of her own pocket. And, she has to return for two followup checkups.
To raise the cash, the family was forced to take out a loan against their home.

But little more than three weeks after her 2-1/2 hour treatment, Butler says the procedure was worth it: she has noticed definite improvement in her condition.
"Almost immediately, I felt the warmth in my hands and my feet, which I hadn't felt for a long time," says Butler, who was diagnosed 17 years ago and has had to retire from her job as a school secretary as a result of her illness.

She says once she completed recovery in hospital and could get up, she noticed an immediate jump in her energy level.

"I'm amazed. Small things would exhaust me -- running a vacuum cleaner, I would have to lie down for half an hour after only running it for five minutes."
Her balance also has improved. Butler, who walks with a cane, hasn't fallen since her treatment and she hopes to discard her cane at some point.
"Hopefully, in December, I'll be back on the curling rink. That's my goal."