Life has taken a major turn for the better for York mother Yasmin Heesom, who is in New York undergoing pioneering treatment for multiple sclerosis.

Yasmin, who has now been receiving a range of treatments at the Schachter Centre for two months, has achieved such astonishing results that she has extended her stay three times and is considering doing so again.

She took the decision to go to the American clinic after reading about how it helped North Yorkshire cancer victim Gail Hepworth, has achieved similarly astounding results.

She has had a 50 per cent reduction in spasms, a 25 per cent reduction in her tremor and a 75 per cent reduction in pain.

One of her carers, Julie Graham, said: "Sometimes she has no pain at all for the first time in ten years. She's feeling a lot happier."

And the charismatic former top athlete, whose brave bid for a better life attracted a £500 donation from British star, Dame Judi Dench, has now come to the attention of American chat-show host Oprah Winfrey.

She may be returning to the US to appear on a show some time in the future and an American writer is also interested in turning her story into a book, and maybe even a film.

Speaking to the Evening Press from her New York hotel room last night, Yasmin spoke of her condition.

She said: "I can turn my head round really easily from side to side. I can sit forward. I had my first bath in four years and it was really amazing. It was one of those whirlpool baths.

"My pain is much better. I had a lovely course of treatment this morning which was based on sound waves that work on your nerves and it's wonderful, I have no pain at all."

Yasmin's other treatment has involved her taking vitamins and minerals intravenously, undergoing mind body therapy and spending time in a hyperbaric oxygen tunnel.

The sound wave treatment is new and experimental and Yasmin may stay beyond her intended June 4 departure date so she is able to have more.

She has also taken quite a shine to her Italian-American chiropractor.

"He's very attractive," she said.

Yasmin's trip has been paid for by the proceeds of a massive fund-raising effort by her carer, Debbie Walker, and Yasmin's former athletics coach, Dave Curwell. Her daughter, Bella, is a pupil of The Mount School, where Dame Judi Dench was also a pupil.

Updated: 08:50 Friday, June 01, 2001