An Edinburgh woman flying to Russia for an aggressive procedure which will leave her vulnerable to infection has said now is "probably the safest time to go".
Jill McLaren has multiple sclerosis (MS) and is flying to a private Russian clinic for a stem cell transplant which she hopes will change her life.
But at a time when most people are avoiding air travel, the procedure will leave Jill with a reduced immune system on the return flight - but she says she isn't worried.
Speaking to the BBC, Jill and her friend Michele Murray explained how they had lived with MS for 20 years - they had been due to travel to a private Moscow clinic but Covid-19 had delayed their plans.
Both women had to shield themselves due to the threat of the virus, but now Russia has granted their visas they have flown to the capital to undergo the potentially life-changing treatment.
Jill, a former radio presenter and journalist from Edinburgh, said: "I think it's probably the safest time to go because everybody is taking so much more care. I know that probably sounds stupid, but it is probably the best time to travel, and come back.
"I'm not worried about going, I'm really excited. I can't wait."
Jill and Michele met on social media and, after finding out they were both going to the same clinic at the same time, decided to travel together.
Former clerical assistant, Michele, who comes from Tain in the Highlands said: "I feel that it's the cleanest and safest time to travel because there won't be as many people on the plane and everything is sterilised. To me it's a no brainer to do it now.
"It's just great going with Jill. Both our husbands can relax knowing we're going to have each other. That makes all the difference. We don't have to travel on our own."
Jill was diagnosed with MS 18 years ago, Michelle one year later - they both said they fear being confined to a wheelchair as their condition deteriorates.
The two woman are each paying tens of thousands of pounds to get the HSCT treatment in Russia - while it has been recommended for use by the NHS in Sctoland, Michele and Jill say they don't meet the current NHS criteria for the treatment.
So far it has not been given to any NHS patients in Scotland.
Jill said: "It's basically pressing control alt delete on my immune system. It's starting again from scratch.
"This is the only thing that's available that can stop the thing in its tracks.
"The criteria that you have to fall into to get it on the NHS in Scotland is so, so, so narrow that I will never fit into it. For one thing, I've had the disease too long. I don't have the luxury of waiting until it does become available.
"People tell me you're brave going to do this, but it's not brave, I'm desperate."
Michele added: "You just feel it's getting worse and worse and you're deteriorating. You have to try to find something that's going to help.
"You need to do it to know if it's going to work. You don't have the option not to try."
A spokeswoman for the Scottish HSCT network, which raises awareness of the treatment for Scots, said: ""Patients continue to travel abroad to receive HSCT for multiple sclerosis as, for many, there are no other treatment options in Scotland.
"The decision to make HSCT available on NHS Scotland is a great step forward. Although restrictive criteria remain, this recognises the real and tangible benefits of HSCT for people coping with the effects of MS on a daily basis."
