PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A new California study is showing promising results to give amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients in Arizona and nationwide a faster diagnosis and more time to live.

Ernie Ruiz doesn’t take the simple things in life for granted after being diagnosed with ALS, a disease that gradually weakens muscles and can leave people unable to walk, speak or breathe.

Ruiz, a 47-year-old husband, father and military veteran, said his symptoms began about two years ago when he started losing balance.

“I started having trouble coordinating my feet together. Something was wrong with my right foot,” Ruiz said.

Two years later, Ruiz can no longer walk. “Basically (I’m) paralyzed from the waist down and I’m starting to have trouble in my right arm as well,” he said.

There is

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