[ALS/JD/Cai Lei/Atrophy]Facing a terminal illness, we still have hope and hope, and fight until the last moment. Cai Lei, the former vice president of JD.com, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (commonly known as ALS) five years ago. Since then, he has donated funds to support ALS medical research many times and has been working hard to fight against the disease. Cai Lei was interviewed again a few days ago and revealed that his body has experienced various declines, his tongue and lower lip have also shrunk, and his condition is approaching an advanced stage. Even though it was difficult to take care of himself, he still worked late into the night every day and was hopeful for the medical research that he donated to support. However, he lamented that the time given to him after the onset of the disease was too short. He said with a smile: “If you give me ten years, I will kill it in a flash.” He also admitted that now he just hopes that his wife “will not be pessimistic or sad.”
Latest videos:
According to internal media reports, Cai Lei, the former vice president of JD.com, was diagnosed with ALS in 2019. At the time, he was only 41 years old and decided to promote drug research and try to fight the disease to the end. He used all his connections and resources to launch the medical treatment of ALS. Research and develop, and provide support for ALS patients. In the five years since he fell ill, Cai Lei has worked more than 16 hours a day, tried to sell goods through live broadcasts, and wrote his autobiography “Believe” to record his experience fighting the terminal illness. Last year, he collaborated with more than a thousand ALS patients to donate brain tissue and Spinal cord tissue for medical research.
Lip and tongue atrophy is a recent condition
In January this year, Cai Lei mentioned the latest situation in an interview with domestic media, saying that his spine has become curved, his tongue and lower lip have shrunk, and his breathing has begun to fail. He needs to wear a ventilator every night to sleep, swallow, and cough up sputum. His body muscles have declined all over, and he needs to be tied up with a rope and hung on the wall to take a bath. Frankly, he feels that he is “very close to death.” His wife also said that she has prepared for the worst.
Even though the research has been running into obstacles, Cai Lei still firmly believes that the efforts are not in vain: “The clinical results last year are equivalent to those of the past ten years, and now the team is getting stronger and stronger. Even if I die, this business will continue.” Although now, although Life has become difficult to take care of himself, but he still insists on working with his colleagues until late at night every day:
“I thought, if I have to be intubated and tracheostomy later, I won’t suffer. I’ve tried my best, so I’ll take the first step.”
Still holding on to hope, fighting to the last moment
At the beginning of this year, he and his wife donated a total of 100 million yuan (RMB, approximately HK$108 million) in profits from autobiography royalties and live broadcasts. Cai Lei, who has very difficulty speaking, faced physical limitations and a life sentence that seemed to be sentenced to a certain period of time. He lamented that the time given to him by this disease was too short. He joked that if he was given ten years, he believed he could kill “it” in an instant.
Even so, there was still light in his eyes:
“I’m still looking forward to the day when I can get rid of ALS before I collapse.”
I hope my wife “don’t be pessimistic or sad.”
Regarding his family, he revealed that his condition has worsened to the point where it is difficult to even speak, so he does not want to talk to his mother on the phone. He only advises the other party to watch the live broadcast: “Don’t you care about me, but I don’t want her to come over.”, “Watch the live broadcast.” , That’s my best state.” Therefore, his mother would stay in the live broadcast room almost every day, and the two would talk to each other in the air: “Mom buys some, and I place the order.” In addition, he said that his son is extremely smart. A month after he started learning Go, he defeated his entire family. Even his teacher praised him for being very smart. Although there was not much interaction between father and son, sometimes his son would come over and give him a hug in the early morning. He believed that he could become an outstanding talent in the future.
Talking about his wife who has been taking care of him and accompanying him at work, Cai Lei said frankly that after getting sick, he and his wife kept quarreling because of her crazy work. Now she can no longer quarrel. He just hopes that his wife will not be pessimistic or sad. “This is my biggest concern.” hope.”
Most patients with ALS die within 3-5 years
According to the Hong Kong Rare Disease Alliance, the scientific name of ALS is “amyotrophic lateral sclerosis” (MND). It is a disease caused by damage to motor neurons. Current scientific research has only found that this disease may be related to genetics. It is related to environmental toxins, and about 10% of ALS patients are hereditary.
In terms of prevalence, the ratio of men is higher than that of women, with a ratio of 1.75:1, and the median age of onset is 62.2 years old. A very small number of family genetic patients may develop the disease as early as 20-30 years old, with an average of 3 to 5 years. Progressed to respiratory failure and death. Main symptoms include:
ALS is an incurable disease
Can ALS be cured? According to the Hong Kong Neuromuscular Disease Society, there is currently no cure or proven effective nerve regeneration method for ALS. Current medical research temporarily provides two drugs that can slightly slow down the progression of the disease through oral and injectable drugs to extend the life of patients. , but none of them can improve the patient’s quality of life or symptoms. Doctors can use other methods, such as prescribing drugs to treat muscle spasms, drooling, sleep problems, pain and depression, non-invasive breathing assistance, using feeding tubes, or arranging for the use of crutches and communication devices to assist patients in their daily lives. life, relieving symptoms and inconveniences in life.
HKET App has been fully upgraded. TOPick has launched a series of parent-child, health, entertainment, Hong Kong news and leisure life information and videos for everyone. Download now: https://onelink.to/f92q4m
Follow TOPick Whatsapp channel for the latest news: http://tinyurl.com/3dtnw8f5
Tags: ALS Cai Lei vice president JD .com fighting ALS years worse time short Hong Kong Economic Daily TOPick Health Medical Figures
-
