Former footballer Tony Kanalos is willing to risk and seek support to enter an experimental treatment in Australia
GSP article – published Monday, September 1, 2025, 18:28 / Updated Monday, September 1, 20:30
Life has never been easy or simple for Satu Mare Tony Kanalos (27 years old), former international U17 footballer and U18, now Entony's father, a 6 -year -old boy.
However, it all changed in even more dark colors after, a year and a half ago, it was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an incurable disease that grinds its muscles and leading to paralysis.
It's better after the first stem cell transplant
But he gave up fighting because, as he says: “I want to be Entony's father, I can hold him in his arms, to play in the park, to see how he becomes a man.” At the end of April, helped by several sponsors, including the Mobexpert Foundation, he managed to reach the US, at a clinic in Miami.
Where he did the first operation, a stem cell implant. And the results are getting dressed, the analyzes received later from the American doctors being better than the previous ones. However, it would need at least one more similar procedure to hope that it would stop or slow down the degenerative process. And this in 6 months after the first intervention!
A road to Florida, the accommodation, the operation, would cost around 30,000 euros, an amount that was striving to obtain, with the help of people. Diana Șucu, the one who invited to a match in Giulești, the one with Dinamo, just before leaving for the US, promised to help him again to have the chance of a life as close to a normal one.
Recently, however, a new medicine, SPG 302, a compound in an experimental stage, which could stop and even cure neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS or Alzheimer, appeared on the world market.
“It's a risk, but in my situation I am willing to do anything”
“My wife, Patricia, who is always looking for the latest news for treatments for my illness, learned about this medicine. Animal study has been a success and now, Australians want to start the first program on humans. And only accept 200 candidates from all over the world.
We also sent all the medical data, we will see if I will be accepted. I know it's an experimental program, with a new medicine, but in my situation I am willing to risk anything to stop this disease or even cure.
The problem is that I have to stay there for three months, during which time, daily, I would receive progressively, doses from this medicine. And the costs for travel and treatment are very high, around 60,000-80,000 euros. That's why I need as much support as possible, “explained Tony Kanalos.
He would be willing to give up another stem cell implant session in the US, only to be able to reach the program for the new drug, SPG 302, who recently received the opinion of being tested.
The Kanalos family also opened two accounts where they could receive donations. RO53BTRLRONCRT0CF7608402, for lei, and RO97BTRLEURCRT0CF7608402, for Euro.
- RO53BTRLRONCRT0CF7608402, for lei
- RO97BTRLEURCRT0CF7608402, for Euro.
