A man from Newark, Wayne County, will travel to India later this month to receive treatment for ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease.

He will be the third person from our area to get this treatment that is only now beginning to be offered on a trial basis in the United States. The use of embryonic stem cells makes this treatment somewhat controversial. But Ray DePauw fears if he waits until it is acceptable in the U.S. it may be too late.

Something as routine as getting a drink of water is anything but for DePauw. After being diagnosed with ALS about a year and a half ago, Ray has lost nearly all the strength in his hands and arms.

"My main goal is to get strength back in my arms,” Ray said. “The tiniest stuff like getting dressed, eating, getting a glass of water or something like that is very frustrating when you got to have both hands to take a cup and concentrate getting it to your mouth. That's the frustrating part."

Ray leaves for New Delhi, India on May 25. There he will receive two months of stem cell treatment from Dr. Geeta Shroff. She will be injecting embryonic stem cells into Ray's body, a treatment he couldn't get in the United States.

"Here, there's so much government control,” said Nancy DePauw, Ray’s wife. “In India, the government leaves these doctors alone and that's a huge difference."

Derek VanWyk of Farmington received similar treatment from Dr. Shroff. YNN featured Derek's story last year and that peaked Ray's interest.

"I called him up, went over there and talked to him face to face,” Ray said. “Right at that point I said this is something I got to do."

Derek's battled ALS for the past five years. The disease has affected nearly his entire body and Derek has already outlived his original prognosis, and he still has a long way to go.

"I've pretty much stabilized,” Derek said of his disease following treatment. “My arms are getting stronger slowly, but I am definitely not any worse. My speech has improved, my energy is much better and overall I feel well."

Dan Herbert of Naples also suffers from ALS. The disease affects his legs. Dan returned from India two weeks ago after being treated by Dr. Shroff.

"It boosts you physically and mentally,” Dan said of the stem cell treatment. “The nurses come in, you get your injections wherever they give them to you. Then you go for physical therapy in the morning. I don't know how long Derek's was, but mine was 45 minutes in the morning, then I also went in the afternoon for a half an hour. It pretty much takes up the day."

The DePauws now know they are not in this alone. They have relied on Derek and Dan for support and information.

"In the last month I see him deteriorating,” Nancy said. “Right now it's like let's just get over there and get started with these treatments because this is what's going to do it for us and for him."

Both Derek and Dan have told Ray not to expect immediate results. They say the stem cell treatment doesn’t work unless the patient does his part by exercising.

The treatment costs $50,000. Ray said he wouldn't be able get it if not for the support of the Newark community. Benefits have been held to help raise the money and more are scheduled. The next one is a steak bake at Burnham's Canalside in Newark on Sunday.

Ray's Hope