After being diagnosed with ALS, finding out that there was no cure and the outlook was grim, I immediately decided that I would have to find a way to beat this disease. There are two treatments that I am currently using to help slow down the progression of ALS and hopefully bring a complete reversal of the symptoms.

In May of 1996 I learned from another PALS (People or Person(s) with ALS) that there is a person by the name of  David Atkinson who significantly improved in 14 months by following a reading done by Edgar Cayce. Cayce referred to the use of  a device called The Wet Cell Battery. I figured I have nothing to lose, so I purchased a Well Cell Battery kit from  Baar Products  and began treatment June 10, 1996. The treatment requires basically a 30 minute daily use of the Wet Cell Battery, followed by a 30-60 minute massage.

You can read Jerry Willingham's story by clicking here!

I went to see an Osteopathic Physician and explained that I wanted him to run some tests checking for food sensitivities, Candida, metal toxicity and my immune system. The results were as I suspected, I have a small case of Candida, small allergies to Baker’s and Brewer’s yeast, zucchini, asparagus, bananas, lobster, watermelon, chili peppers and kidney beans. The immune competency panel showed that I was low in several areas, such as CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16, CD19 and lymphocytes count. The Hair Analysis results for metal toxicity revealed high levels of arsenic, aluminum and cadmium. A Dark Field Microscopy evaluation confirmed metal toxicity. I also had several mineral deficiencies, including calcium, copper, lithium and my DHEA was 2\3 below normal. The results were that I was suffering  from a somewhat suppressed immune system, metal toxicity and had several mineral deficiencies.

After several  months of contemplating the use of EDTA chelation to remove these metals I decided to give it a try. At this point I was having difficulty breathing, since my FVC (Forced Vital Capacity) was down to 34%. My neurologist and pulmonary doctor were urging me to go ahead with a tracheotomy for the use of a ventilator before an emergency occurred. I then had a “portacath” surgically implanted and began chelation treatment 4/29/97 that consists of three iv bags. The first one is a vitamin bag containing mostly vitamin C (25 grams). The second bag contains  EDTA chelation. The third bag is the hydrogen peroxide that oxygenates the tissue. After three treatments my breathing, swallowing, speech and neck strength improved. After the ninth treatment I saw my pulmonary doctor and my FVC was back up to 50% I was having no difficulty breathing, swallowing improved so that I am no longer choking on my own saliva and thin liquids, holding my head up was also much easier. After the 20th treatment all bulbar symptoms remained the same with a slight increase in leg strength. Another Dark Field evaluation was performed and the indication of metal toxicity was much less.

August my FVC dropped to 48%, 43% in September, 37% in October, 33% in November and I will know again January 9, 1998. Although my FVC is poor, around 30%, I seldom have difficulty breathing. Someone asked me, “How can that be?” I told him I could not explain it. My neck strength has remained the same since the improvement 7 months ago. Swallowing is still good, dietary consistency changes had to be made but, that was mostly to speed up the time it took to eat. My speech has continued to become more difficult and I have had an increase in saliva. The progression in my arms and legs seems to have been very slow the last 8 months. Another Dark Field microscopy evaluation was performed after  treatment number 60, and it looked as though there has been a 90% decrease in metal toxicity. After 8 months and 75 treatments of chelation, hydrogen peroxide, vitamin and mineral supplementation, healthy eating and a generally positive attitude, I believe I have experienced a slowing down in the progression of ALS and delayed the need for a tracheostomy, ventilator and feeding tube.

If you think you might be suffering from metal toxicity, I recommend finding an Osteopathic physician and he will run a lot of tests checking for different things including metal toxicity. The results will indicate whether or not chelation needs to be used. Chelation is very expensive and a minimum of 30 treatments is usually the case. Insurance usually wont pay unless lead is detected. If you do try an Osteopathic physician, take a look at http://www.ephca.com/als_case.htm first.

BROOKS RATING SCALE
I rate myself  6/40

SPEECH
4  Normal speech processes
3  Detectable speech disturbance
2 Intelligible with repeating
*1 Speech combined with nonvocal communication
0 Loss of useful speech

SALIVATION
4  Normal
3  Slight but definite excess of saliva in mouth, may have night time drooling
2  Moderately excessive saliva; may have minimal drooling
*1  Marked excess of saliva with some drooling
0  Marked drooling; requires constant tissue

SWALLOWING
4  Normal
3  Early eating problems--occasional choking
*2  Dietary consistency changes
1  Needs supplementary tube feeding
0  NPO (exclusively parenteral or enteral feeding)

HANDWRITING (with dominant hand prior to ALS)
4  Normal
3  Slow or sloppy; all words are legible
2  Not all words are legible
1  Able to grip pen but unable to write
*0  Unable to grip pen

CUTTING FOODHANDLING UTENSILS (with gastrostomy)
4  Normal
3  Clumsy but can perform all manipulations
2  Can cut most foods, clumsy and slow, help needed
1  Provides minimal assistance to caregiver
*0  Unable to perform any aspect of task

DRESSING & HYGIENE
4  Normal function
3  Independent and complete self-care with effort or decreased efficiency
2  Intermittent assistance or substitute methods
1  Needs attendant for self-care
*0  Total dependence

TURNING IN BED AND ADJUSTING BEDCLOTHES
4  Normal
3  Somewhat slow and clumsy; no help needed
2  Can turn alone or adjust sheets, but with great difficulty
*1  Can initiate, but not turn or adjust sheets alone
0  Helpless

WALKING
4  Normal
3  Early ambulating difficulties
2  Walks with assistance (any device, including AFOs)
1  Nonambulatory functional movement only
+0  No purposeful leg movement

CLIMBING STAIRS
4  Normal
3  Slow
2  Mild unsteadiness or fatigue
1  Needs assistance (including handrail)
*0  Cannot do

BREATHING
4  Normal
3  Shortness of breath with minimal exertion
2  Shortness of breath at rest
+1  Intermittent (e.g.ventilatory assistance)
0  Ventilator dependent