Clint Rydalch of Kamas, Utah was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis the day before Thanksgiving in 2006. It wasn't long before he became so sick, he couldn't do anything but lie in bed. He couldn't remember his wife and children and had to rely on a feeding tube to stay alive.
His doctor decided to try Tysabri, a new drug administered intravenously once a month. The drug, approved by the FDA only recently, works by blocking cells that damage the protective sheath around nerves.
One day after his first treatment, Clint was talking and moving again. Today, after four treatments, he's back to work part-time.
Tysabri isn't for everyone. It only works for certain kinds of multiple sclerosis, and it should only be used as a last resort because of its potential side effects. But for patients like Clint, the results can be life-changing.
"In a fairly large number, we're seeing a reversal or improvement of symptoms, in some case to a fairly dramatic degree," said Salt Lake City neurologist Dr. John Foley.
Clint agrees, "From day one, we started noticing miracles."
