Rockford woman is 1st in Wisconsin to receive newly-approved FDA ALS treatment

 

ROCKFORD, Ill. (CBS 58) -- A Rockford, Illinois woman is the first in Wisconsin to receive a new FDA-approved treatment for ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. 

Michelle Francis was first diagnosed in 2019 with what's called the SOD1 mutation.

The disease has run in her family for seven generations, affecting 65 members and counting. 

In April, UW Health in Madison offered a glimmer of hope -- a monthly treatment involved removing spinal fluid with a needle and replacing it with a new drug. 

Now, nearly eight appointments later, Francis says she has hope for the first time. 

"It will be here forever so we definitely have to have something to once you develop, there's some hope and I’m thinking this is gonna be it," said Francis. 

Francis says she hopes others with ALS will hear her story, be inspired, and most importantly, not give up.