Charitable spirit repaid when illness strikes
Diagnosis sends patient overseas
By Heidi Atkin
Close-Up Correspondent
Article Last Updated:10/12/2006 02:58:16 PM MDT


Jim Soto is known for his generosity to co-workers who are employed by Salt Lake City.
In the past, he has helped them with mortgage and car payments.
"I'd help them out from payday to payday because I've always been one to give - and I just enjoy helping people," said Soto, who lives in Sugar House.
That's why city employees are happy to help Soto in return.
Soto is currently on long-term disability because, after 29 years of employment with the city's public utilities department, the 54-year-old can no longer do his job without threatening the safety of himself and his co-workers. He was diagnosed in January with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. He is set to retire this month.
Lou Gehrig's disease is a fatal condition in which the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord are damaged over time and restrict control of movement. Typically, patients will exhibit loss of control in their extremities, breathing, swallowing and other types of movement until they ultimately become completely paralyzed.
Soto's speech is slurred and he has no movement in his right hand, but he still maintains a significant amount of movement. On average, someone diagnosed with the disease lives from two- to five years.
To give himself a fighting chance, Soto left for the Dominican Republic in September to try
human fetal-stem-cell therapy. Stem cells will be intravenously injected into Soto. Purportedly, the stem-cell therapy fixes motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, restoring some of patients' motor function and repairing damage before more is lost. The procedure costs $30,000 - a price that puts it beyond the reach of most people who opt for elective treatments that insurance companies won't pay for.
That's where Soto's friends, family and co-workers have stepped in to help.
Earlier this year, they raised $8,000 for his treatment at a benefit golf tournament. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Soto's union, raised another $9,000 at a fundraiser last month.
Union official Patty Rich says it was the least that members of the union could do, given Soto's generosity. She said she is dismayed that Soto has to travel so far and pay so much for medical help.
"We [Americans] shouldn't be running behind the eight ball; we should be ahead," Rich said. "It's a tragedy."
Some are skeptical and claim the benefits of the therapy to many patients are dubious. Soto, however, remains hopeful.
"Hopefully, it will prolong my life," he said

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_4482090