IPLEX - New York Times

Dear friends/PALS,

A very dear & close friend, Kathy Thompson a.k.a. Fighting Mom (Team IPLEX Capt.) her son, Josh Thompson (PALS) were featured in the New York Times.,

The New York Times has just published a long article about IPLEX. Here it is: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/health/policy/17untested.html?_r=1&hp

This is an interesting and emotional story. It really puts the whole daily struggle in human terms. Although I'm very satisfied that some were able to obtain IPLEX, it is very disheartening that access has been denied/blocked to others. It is my opinion, that the FDA, should use this as a precedent to allow terminals/dying patients with no other alternatives, to obtain and try experimental drugs.

It doesn't necessarily mean that any drugs allowed under these conditions, will work -- far from it, but it allows patients to try.

I'm not satisfied that the ALS research community in general have not been able to offer PALS any real hope, which in effect forces PALS to rely on blogs, hearsay, and medical possibilities as opposed to reasonable off label therapeutics as a hope for treatment.

Please review the video below, which shows Josh, with his wife & children, not to mention his mother =.The original -- Fighting Mom -- Kathy
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/05/16/us/20090516_untested/index.ht ml#


Sincerely,
Edward W. Esparza
(pals since 2005)

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people, who kept on trying when there seemed to be, no hope at all."
- Dale Carnegie