ALS Clinical Study for My Mom

Hello and thank you so very much for taking the time to hear our story. 

About two years ago, my mother Rosemary Wilcox would start a journey that would change her life forever. After a routine carpel tunnel procedure, doctors noticed that my mother’s curling hands were not improving, but getting worse. After a series of tests, our family was devastated to learn that the actual cause was not carpel tunnel as originally suspected, but instead my beloved mother was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). At this time, my mother was given 2-6 months to live. Once I received this news, I immediately packed my bags and headed to Sacramento to be with my mother.  

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a specific disorder that involves the death of neurons. ALS is characterized by stiff muscles, muscle twitching, and gradually worsening weakness due to muscles decreasing in size. This results in difficulty speaking, swallowing, and eventually breathing. ALS results in the death of the neurons that control voluntary muscles. There is currently no known cure for ALS. The disease usually starts around the age of 60 and in inherited cases around the age of 50. The average survival from onset to death is three to four years. About 10% survive longer than 10 years. Most die from respiratory failure. In much of the world, rates of ALS are unknown. In Europe and the United States, the disease affects about 2 people per 100,000 per year.

Well, my mother Rosemary has always been a fighter, and she is now on month 7, already outperforming the original timeline, and is currently doing very good with no serious red flags at this time. Even better, we recently received some exciting and hopeful news as my mother just got a personal phone call from Dr. Avindra Nath inviting her to take part in his new groundbreaking ALS clinical trials! Dr. Nath is the Clinical Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. He is one of the nation’s leading doctors on nervous system infections and diseases, as his research focuses on understanding the pathophysiology of retroviral infections of the nervous system and the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for these diseases. He is currently leading a major clinical study in Maryland which could produce major results for ALS. Please watch the video above to see Dr. Nath explain in more detail about this exciting new medical research!

Although my mom fully understand this disease and understands that participatining in this groundbreaking clinical trial won’t guarantee anything, she also understands that there is always hope and she wants to be a part of the solution. On top of already committing to donate her body to UC Davis for medical research, Rosemary also wants so badly to participate in this new clinical trial in Maryland so she can help not only herself, but more importantly, other people suffering from ALS as well. As with any new medical trial or procedure, it will not be easy, and my mom Rosemary volunteering for such a thing is very brave.

Please, help me raise the funds to send my mother to participate in this new ALS clinical study in Maryland. These studies will not only be helping my mom, but also the thousands of patients and families around the world who are going through this same thing. The research that comes out of this is priceless and could very well lead to finding the cure for ALS.

Yes, we’re asking for a monetary gift. But more importantly, we’re asking for your support. My mother spent her life working in education and fighting for people to have a better chance in life. Let’s band together to fight for her and help her fulfill her life and dreams on her terms, by aiding in the research of this terrible disease. Anything helps. $5,000, $500, $50, or $5. It’s not about the money. It’s about showing my mom that we support her and her efforts to fight back against ALS. She doesn’t want to fade into the darkness and become just another statistic. She wants to do her part to fight this and make a difference. As well as a donation, please help spread the word by sharing this page and also keeping my mother and our family in your thoughts and prayers.

My mother is my hero, and your support truly means the world not only to my family, but all other families suffering through ALS as well. Thank you again so much for listening to our story and god bless,

Ann Marie Montoya


“Society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in” – Ancient Greek Proverb.


 FOR MORE INFO

CLICK HERE: NBC News Article on Dr. Nath’s Research  


CLICK HERE: Dr. Nath Bio