The smile was hidden behind her respirator, but Lisa Mauriello’s eyes sparkled as she received her first dose of an experimental drug called Toferson, which doctors believe could halt the progression of the rarest form of ALS currently tearing away her quality of life.
Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) experience respiratory complications from their disease that can rapidly worsen and ultimately contribute to an early risk of death. In a paper published in the BMJ Open, researchers from South America presented a protocol for a randomized trial to study the effects of an optimized home-based respiratory care approach in patients with ALS.
Andrea Peet has seven swallow birds tattooed on her left arm underneath her elbow. The birds are a light blue color and one of them even has a mask on its beak to signify the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic year.
Two years ago, Holly Gross was diagnosed with ALS, a disease she calls ‘a monster with no mercy.’ As her husband struggles with Parkinson’s, it’s her sons who mostly take care of her. She can’t use her voice, but she talks to them. She can’t move, but she keeps them on track. All they want now is more time with her.
During his 17-year career with the New York Yankees, Lou Gehrig was famed for his prowess as a hitter and for his durability on the baseball field, which earned him his nickname "The Iron Horse.” Then, mysteriously, in 1938, his iron body began to figuratively rust. He couldn’t run, hit, or field his position as well as he once did. When doctors finally diagnosed his condition, the news was devastating.