MARGARET WE ARE INSIDE THE ALS : CLINIC AT DUKE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COME HERE LOOKING FOR HELP IN FIGHTING THIS DEBILITATING DISEASE.
>> EDWARD JAMES HENDERSON JUNIOR.
>> PATIENTS LIKE 74-YEAR-OLD RETIRED AIRFORCE COLONNEL EDWARD HENDERSON JUNIOR.
HE’S HERE WITH HIS WIFE MURIEL FOR HIS 90-DAY CHECK-UP.
>> HOW ARE YOU?
>> HOW ARE YOU GUYS?
MARGARET LIKE A REVOLVING DOOR.
: OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR HOURS.
AT LEAST A HALF DOZEN SPECIALISTS ENTER THE ROOM.
>> BIG BREATH.
AND OUT.
SUCK IN HARD FOR ME.
GOOD.
MARGARET: THEY PUT HIM THROUGH A BATTERY OF TESTS TO SEE IF HIS CONDITION HAS STABILIZED, IMPROVED OR GOTTEN WORSE.
,>> AND RELAX.
READY?
GO AHEAD.
MARGARET DOCTORS DIAGNOSED : HENDERSON WITH ALS NEARLY THREE YEARS AGO.
HE IMEDIATLEY JOINED A SUPPORT GROUP AND GOT THIS ADVICE.
>> DON’T PUT YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND.
ALS IS A MONSTER.
MARGARET: A MONSTER THE DOCTOR SAID WOULD LIKELY KILL HIM WITHIN SIX MONTHS TO A FEW YEARS.
>> IT WAS EMOTIONAL TO HEAR THAT.
THE FACT THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAD TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MAY FEEL LIKE TO DIE.
THEY REALLY GOT MY ATTENTION, THE FACT THAT I MAY NOT BE AROUND THAT LONG.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET MY FAMILY READY AND GET ALL THE AFFAIRS IN ORDER?
SIX MONTHS IS A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
MARGARET: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR STRENGTH?
>> OVER LIKE TO DO MORE WEIGHT TRAINING.
MARGARET: HE HAS ALREADY LOST 4 FRIENDS TO ALS.
16,000 PEOPLE CAN HAVE THE DISEASE AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
VETS LIKE HIM ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO GET IT.
>> IT TURNS YOUR LIFE UPSIDE DOWN.
MARGARET: 55-YEAR-OLD ARTHUR PATSCH OF GREENSBORO GOT THE AWFUL DIAGNOSIS IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR.
HE THOUGHT HE HAD A PINCHED NERVE.
HE’S HERE WITH HIS WIFE TERRI.
>> SO WHEN THEY TOLD ME IT WASNT -- WASN’T A COMPLETE SHOCK BUT STILL A DEVASTATING DIAGNOSIS.
>> IT BLEW US AWAY.
JUST REALLY SHOCKED US.
I STILL TEAR UP ABOUT IT. >>
>> IT IS PROGRESSIVE.
IT DOESN’T HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE.
IT IS A GRADUAL THING.
IF IT FOLLOWS COURSE WILL TAKE -- IT WILL TAKE EVERY THING FROM YOU.
MARGARET: BOTH MEN ARE ON DRUGS AND SUPPLEMENTS THAT MAY SLOW THE DISEASE DOWN AND GIVE THEM A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.
THEY ARE PRAYING FOR A CURE.
FOR NOW THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES IN THE HANDS OF THIS MAN.
DR. RICHARD BEDLACK.
ONE OF THE ROCK STARS IN THE FIELD.
HE ALWAYS GREETS PATIENTS WEARING A FLASHY SUIT HOPING TO TAKE SOME OF THE STING OUT OF THE BAD NEWS HE OFTEN DELIVERS.
COULD -- >> TODAY AM GOING TO SEE 14 PEOPLE.
THE LAST PERSON NEEDS ME TO BE FULLY CHARGED.
I CAN’T BE TIRED OR SAT FROM THE 13 PEOPLE I SAW BEFORE.
I HAVE TO BE FULL BLAST, FULL OF POSITIVE ENERGY.
MARGARET HOW MANY OF THOSE FUNKY : LOOKING SUITS DO YOU HAVE?
>> MY GOODNESS.
I GUESS IT DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK.
MY WIFE WOULD PROBABLY SAY TOO MANY.
IDEALLY I NEVER WEAR THE SAME , THING TWICE.
SHE TELLS ME THATS NOT GOING TO BE POSSIBLE.
I’VE GOT A LOT.
HOW DO YOU THINK YOU BEEN DOING THE LAST FEW MONTHS? >> NOT BAD AT ALL.
MARGARET TODAY THERE IS NO NEW : BAD NEWS FOR EDWARD HENDERSON WHO IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HIS RIGHT HAND.
HE IS AFRAID HE MIGHT BE GETTING WORSE.
>> I THINK YOUR EXAM LOOKS BETTER COMPARED TO LAST TIME.
THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS.
AS YOU KNOW, MOST COMMONLY, PEOPLE LOOK A LITTLE BIT WORSE EACH TIME.
THE FACT THAT THINGS LOOK MOSTLY BETTER IS TERRIFIC.
MARGARET DR. BEDLACK ALSO BRINGS : GOOD NEWS ABOUT SOME UPCOMING CLINICAL TRIALS THAT COULD BE A GAME CHANGER.
>> I’M LOOKING TO SEE IF I CAN REVERSE ALS.
MARGARET: STILL TO COME, WE WILL TAKE YOU INSIDE THE LAB WHERE WE EXPLAIN THE STUDIES.
AND HOW THEY JUST MIGHT LEAD TO THAT CURE.
REPORTING IN DURHA