A Taste of the Past

A Taste of the Past

When my husband, Todd, was diagnosed with ALS, I grieved the loss of our dreams and our future together, but I had no idea how hard daily life would become. ALS caregiving spouses end up taking on a lot of roles. We advocate for resources and battle insurance companies.

New Israeli Production Site for NurOwn Certified for Quality

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics announced that a new cleanroom facility for manufacturing NurOwn, its experimental cell-based therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has received good manufacturing practice (GMP) certification from the Israel Ministry of Health. GMPs are standards set to ensure that batches of a medicine are produced with consistent high…

US Patient Groups Give Thumbs-Up to Rule Against Surprise Billing

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is applauding the Biden administration for announcing a rule to protect consumers from surprise medical billing, in a joint statement with 26 other U.S. patient organizations. The interim final rule will implement patient protections required by the No Surprises Act. Surprise…

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

“Don’t the best of them bleed it out While the rest of them peter out? Truth or consequence, say it aloud Use that evidence, race it around There goes my hero Watch him as he goes There goes my hero He’s ordinary.” The lyrics of the Foo Fighters’ song…

Don’t Let ALS Define Who You Are

Once in a while, a newly diagnosed ALS patient will reach out to me and ask for help in their adjustment to life with ALS. I’m always happy to share resources, motivation, and tips, and usually, I begin our online friendship with the question, “Tell me a little about yourself?”…

Every ALS Patient in New Jersey to Get Free Eye Gaze Technology

Thanks to a new partnership, every amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient in New Jersey, about 400 in total, will have free access to eye gaze technology that can aid them in communicating. As the name suggests, this assistive technology helps people with neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS, to communicate…

Doddie Foundation Gives £500,000 to Support UK Research Fund

A £500,000 (almost $700,000) grant the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation was given to the LifeArc & MND Association Translational Research Fund to support work that might lead to new treatments for motor neuron diseases (MND), including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The fund, jointly established by LifeArc…

Amylyx Secures Funding for Therapy Candidate AMX0035

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals has raised $135 million to advance the clinical development and the potential launch of its lead candidate AMX0035 for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The Series C financing round, led by Viking Global Investors, also will be used to support further research and…

The Many Challenges of Getting Out

Normally, we live much of our life at home. My husband, Todd, has ALS and is paralyzed. He spends his time in his wheelchair set up at his computer, and I can’t go far in case he needs help. Our traveling days are over, and we can’t visit most…