Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) stops communication between the brain and voluntary muscles. Patients slowly lose muscle strength, affecting their ability to walk, talk, and even breathe. The illness eventually results in paralysis and early death. Most people are given just two to five years to live after diagnosis.
Samantha Barber is a former bodybuilder. She’s always been athletic, playing volleyball and basketball as a child. As an adult she loved weight lifting and averaged running five to six miles every day.
But that all changed when she was diagnosed with ALS. Now instead of being strong in the gym, she’s being fighting strong against her diagnosis.
The Path to Diagnosis
What’s astounding is that Samantha diagnosed herself (even though she didn’t want to believe it) before any doctor could figure it out. She diligently researched her symptoms and even though she wasn’t happy about it, she was convinced she had ALS. This was finally confirmed last summer, and she began treatment and physical therapy.
Despite the prognosis of ALS, Samantha has decided not to sit back and watcher her condition progress. She’s determined to fight.
Taking Control
She immediately dedicated hours of her time searching for treatments for the condition. She read about patients who have lived longer lives than expected, and says she tries to replicate their treatment and supplement regimes. She also has been traveling to Mexico for stem-cell therapy. The goal is that it will help restore her strength, but she’s also holding on to hope that it may regress her symptoms.
The treatment is not approved by the FDA for ALS and it costs 17,000 dollars.
Staying Positive
Samantha says she tries not to dwell on the negatives. She’s hopeful about the improvement of her condition and tries to focus on what she would be able to do when she gets better, as opposed to what she can’t do now.
Right now she’s very reliant on her husband and 20-year-old son. It’s certainly different from the life she lived pre-diagnosis. She says she now understands how much she took for granted.
But she’s staying positive, hopeful for a cure, and determined not to live her life focused on the prognosis of her condition.
You can read more about Samantha’s story here.
