This is my best friend Cathy and her beautiful family.  Cathy (pictured on the very right) has ALS.


Cathy was diagnosed with ALS in January of 2019. It was the most devastating news that we didn’t want to face, but had suspected.  Cathy started noticing that she would slur some words back in October of 2017, but kept it to herself.  I remember having lunch with her at our favorite spot on the pier in San Clemente in February of 2018 when she asked me if I could tell if she was slurring her words. At that time, I said no, because truthfully I couldn’t detect anything wrong. But, Cathy knew something was wrong. And, that began a series of other troubling symptoms that lead to Cathy completely losing her ability to speak as I write this.


I miss my best friend’s voice, her laugh, and the radiant smile she used to wear constantly on her face.  ALS has robbed her of the ability to talk, eat without choking, use her left hand, and breath freely. This disease is about the worst thing that can happen to a human being, and there is no cure for what will progress to a point where my BFF loses her life.


The FDA has been slow to approve stem cell treatments for this disease and others, when there is now scientific evidence that stem cells help to slow and even stop progression.  Cathy participated in  a clinical trial where she received 3 stem cell treatments of NurOwn, and we believe she received the real thing (vs. the placebo), because her progression had slowed down considerably.  However, that trial is over, and approval of that stem cell treatment won’t be for another year.  After that, it will take who knows how long to put it on the market.  Cathy doesn’t have that kind of time.  She needs help now.

That’s why I’m starting this fundraiser. Cathy needs our help now. She needs the funds to travel to another country that is legally allowed to provide her the stem cell treatment to keep her going until NurOwn is available in this country.

Please help with whatever amount you can. These stem cell treatments are extremely expensive, so anything you can spare will help.

Thank you.