Robert's Stem Cell Therapy for PLS

Robert Moran, native of Santa Clara, California, is a 49 year old man father of 2 children who is in need of funds to help pay for Stem Cell Therapy best chance for regaining his strength and energy.


In 2013, at the age of 45, Robert (my brother) was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Latera Sclerosis or ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.  ALS is a disease of the body’s motor neurons that control muscle movement. ALS is a fatal disease that progresses rapidly, caused by the loss or death of neurons in the body.

My brother is currently unemployed and due to divorce, he was forced to sell his house.  The alternative insurance he currently has unfortunately does not cover all medication needed.  Let alone stem cell therapy.  Stem cell therapy would be a possibility from keeping the disease progressing rapidly.  We need everything to help him stay strong.  

He moved into an apartment, but wanted to keep his children close to their Willow Glen neighborhood so they could continue at the same schools they had attended before.

A year after his initial diagnosis, the diagnosis of ALS was found to be incorrect and he was rediagnosed with Primary Lateral Sclerosis or PLS. It is often referred to as a slower progression of ALS and it is also a degenerative neurological disorder, but unlike ALS, the lower motor neurons are not affected. The degenerative process is confined to the length of the spinal column, affecting the legs, arms and the speech and swallowing muscles. There is no known cure for the disease and, if treated correctly, people can live for years with the assistance of canes and wheelchairs and other help.
 
He's always been an active and involved father.  He currently is an active coach to his daughter's soccer team and well loved from all the girls and families.  He gets a lot of satisfaction being able to teach a sport he's always loved.  Most importantly the quality time with his daughter.  He values the time he spends with his children, his daughter, age 15 and son, age 18 who is a recent High school graduate.

 
The illness he suffers from is making it more challenging for my brother to care for himself. His speech continues to deteriorate and because of the degeneration of his swallowing muscles it is more difficult for him to eat and drink. Since May of last year he has lost use of his right arm and continues to lose weight and body strength. Some of the day to day challenges my brother encounters that we take for granted.  He has to navigate many things that are difficult for him to do for himself.  Day to day challenges are increasing. 

He has been offered some hope of relief through stem cell therapy.  Patients with PLS who receive stem cell therapy see improvements in motor function, balance, coordination, neuropathic pain, fatigue, tremors, speech, swallowing and a slowing of progression of the disease.  Our prayers are that the stem cell therapy will slow or stop the progression of PLS.
 
But, in order to receive the first stem cell therapy my brother will need $32,000.  After the therapy is completed, his progress will be monitored for 6 months to check for improvement. If it is successful, he may have another treatment after that time.  The stress of the financial burden for the stem cell therapy is exacerbating in many ways shapes and forms to us all.
 
My brother has never asked anyone for help. Our family, who, if we were able, would provide my brother with everything he needs, but, unfortunately we are not in the position to be able to afford this costly, but very needed, treatment. So, we are reaching out to ask for help for him. My brother is a kind and caring man - a father, son, brother and uncle.  He is still a young man and would like to have the chance to stay as healthy and capable as possible so that he can raise his children and be able to experience all the things that fathers dream of doing - vacations with his children, seeing them graduate from high school and college, and, someday, perhaps, walking his daughter down the aisle.

If you can help, with any amount, our family, his children, and Robert (my brother), most of all, would appreciate it so much.  Every contribution no matter how big or small a donation is, it all adds up to make a huge change.

We will update this page with his progress. God bless you and thank you!