Published: Friday, April 18, 2014 at 9:53 p.m. Last Modified: Friday, April 18, 2014 at 9:53 p.m. A neurologist, a chiropractor and an orthopedic surgeon all weighed in on Allen's symptoms, which included tightness in his right leg and an overall stiffness in his body, but no one could pinpoint the culprit. Then Allen, of Ormond Beach, came to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, and after several MRIs and a spinal tap, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. First came the walking stick, then the wheelchair. That was in 2005, and nearly 10 years later, Buddy, now wheelchair-bound, has gotten progressively worse. "Time is not necessarily my friend," said the 51-year-old. "I can't really walk at all." After Buddy's diagnosis, he signed up for Google Alerts on everything regarding MS especially treatment information. He shared that information with his doctor, Dr. Daniel Kantor, the director of the Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Center at UF Health Shands in Jacksonville. "Dr. Kantor would actually talk to me about each one," Allen said. And then one drug emerged that got both Allen and Kantor excited. The drug itself was not actually brand-new once called Campeth, it was initially used as a cancer drug. … Continue reading →

University of Washington defensive back Brian Clay gave up a scholarship at Hawaii to transfer and walk on in Seattle. PETERHALEY/STAFFPHOTOGRAPHER Brian Clay was on scholarship at Hawaii, where he spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career before transferring to Washington in September, choosing to pay his own way as a walk-on. That was a sacrifice he made not only in pursuit of greater competition and the chance to play in the Pac-12 Conference, but for his mother, Mary Jane, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when Clay was in high school. Clay grew up in Vacaville, Calif., about halfway between Sacramento and San Francisco, which made for long trips back and forth from Honolulu. But more important, he said, is UWs nationally renowned Multiple Sclerosis Center, where his mother receives treatment twice a month when she comes to visit. He likes to be there. Washington has one of the premier MS centers, so I wanted to be closer to home so I could be with her coming up here and getting treatment, Clay said after a recent practice. Washington completes its spring practice slate with its spring preview scrimmage at 1 p.m. Saturday at Husky Stadium. It … Continue reading →

Published: Friday, April 18, 2014 at 9:53 p.m. Last Modified: Friday, April 18, 2014 at 9:53 p.m. A neurologist, a chiropractor and an orthopedic surgeon all weighed in on Allens symptoms, which included tightness in his right leg and an overall stiffness in his body, but no one could pinpoint the culprit. Then Allen, of Ormond Beach, came to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, and after several MRIs and a spinal tap, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. First came the walking stick, then the wheelchair. That was in 2005, and nearly 10 years later, Buddy, now wheelchair-bound, has gotten progressively worse. Time is not necessarily my friend, said the 51-year-old. I cant really walk at all. After Buddys diagnosis, he signed up for Google Alerts on everything regarding MS -- especially treatment information. He shared that information with his doctor, Dr. Daniel Kantor, the director of the Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Center at UF Health Shands in Jacksonville. Dr. Kantor would actually talk to me about each one, Allen said. And then one drug emerged that got both Allen and Kantor excited. The drug itself was not actually brand-new -- once called Campeth, it was initially used as a … Continue reading →