Susan's ALS Fight Fund

In May of 2023, my mom, Susan Mertz (aka Oma, Seester, Aunt Sue, Dr. Susan), was diagnosed with ALS. ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It causes progressive muscle weakness, leading to difficulty walking, speaking, and breathing.

Traditional neurologists told my mom there was no cure and she had 1-5 years to live. They said they would help her feel comfortable as they watched the disease progress.

Then we found a place, BodyScience, that has proven that the root cause for the motor neuron damage can be found and symptoms can be reversed. They are willing to think outside the box and give true hope - and true results- to people with ALS who are committed to fighting this horrible diagnosis.

A year ago, Mom was hiking to a waterfall with us. She spent almost all her spare time hiking, gardening, and doing pottery. Now, she needs to use a walker to get around. Her hand strength is weak, and her voice and breathing are affected. But she refuses to give up. We believe these symptoms can be reversed. Some things have started to improve. After one week of therapy in August, her muscle twitches stopped. Last week, her core muscle strength improved so she could stand straight, unassisted, for the first time in two months. Other things have not improved…yet…but they can with continued treatments.

After six months and five visits to the clinic in Miami, it’s time to start stem cell therapy. Stem cells can transform into neuronal cells, replacing damaged cells with new, functional ones and repairing damaged nerve structures. BodyScience uses a bank of fetal stem cells from the placenta and umbilical cord of moms giving birth through C-section.

The therapy at BodyScience, including stem cells, is not covered by insurance. It costs over $8,000 per month for the treatments at the clinic, traveling to Miami, and the home treatments. Stem cell therapy will be an additional $31,500. We’re looking at another year's worth of treatments.

We would be extremely grateful if you could help us fight this fight against ALS. Any amount, and even shares of this post, will help.