ALS patient eye doctor clings to life for 27 years

IZMIR, TURKEY - APRIL 15: Footage showing daily life of Alper Kaya, 56 year old eye physician who suffers from a motor neuron disease called ALS at his home in Izmir, Turkey on April 15, 2017. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) which is also known by other names like Lou Gehrig's disease or Stephen Hawking's disease that causes progressive degeneration of the motor cells (neurones) control the muscles that enable people to move around, speak, breathe, and swallow. Kaya who says that he's inspired by famous English theoretical physicist and author Stephen Hawking lives a productive and a happy life together with his wife who is also physician like himself and 26 year old daughter despite suffering from ALS for 27 years. He easily moves around at his home through wheelchair that he can drive with his head movements and watches TV. Kaya who used to play guitar plays jamboxx, --a harmonica-like breath-driven digital instrument that he can control hands-free-- in his spare times as the rest of his body is completely paralyzed. He can use computer as well through a reflector and a computer linked camera that's placed over his head. Kaya who is president of ALS-MND Association's Izmir branch also helps ALS patients to overcome their problems by sharing his own experiences through his web page on internet. "Never submit. The disease follows a different path in each person and with timely medical support, good care, and good morale as well as supportive family environment you can live much longer than 5 years- the life span that's mentioned in medical books--.", he advises newly diagnosed ALS patients. He stresses that ALS patients need psychological-not just medication-- and social support, and assisted computer technologies to establish communication is a must for this group of patients. (Fooatage by Fatih Dogan / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images)