Hoenselaar/Schmidt Family Supports ALS Patients Across Generations
Monday, October 28, 2019
By: Rachel Reed

For three generations and more than 30 years, the Hoenselaar/Schmidt family has supported people with ALS through world-class care and leading-edge research at the Harry J. Hoenselaar ALS Clinic at Henry Ford Health System.

It started in 1972, when Harry J. Hoenselaar, founder of Honey Baked Ham Company and inventor of the famous spiral slicer, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at Henry Ford Hospital. Determined to live a full life despite his disease, Harry continued to fish, golf and enjoy time with family until he died in 1974. Thirteen years later, Mrs. Josephine Hoenselaar made a generous gift in memory of her husband to establish the Hoenselaar ALS Clinic at Henry Ford. Josephine’s desire was to pay tribute to her husband and his legacy by offering support for patients with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, regardless of their ability to pay.

Recently, the Hoenselaar family’s legacy of support for ALS patients continued with the receipt of a bequest gift from Harry and Josephine’s daughter and son-in-law, Mary Lou and Lou Schmidt, Sr.

“The Hoenselaar and Schmidt family’s generosity over these last few decades has been critical to establishing our world-class ALS clinic,” says Daniel Newman, M.D., director of the Hoenselaar Clinic.

ALS is a progressive degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. The disease can cause twitching, stiffness and weakness in the muscles as they atrophy. Sufferers eventually lose the ability to do many daily life activities like walking, speaking, and even swallowing.

Today, the Hoenselaar Clinic is one of the largest its kind in Michigan, a state-of-the-art multidisciplinary clinic focused on serving all patient needs in one location. Patients typically visit the clinic every three months for a half day of services, which include neurology, physical therapy, speech pathology, psychology and respiratory therapy. Because many ALS patients rely on caregivers for support, the Hoenselaar Clinic also offers resources for family members and friends.

Not only is the Hoenselaar Clinic focused on improving the lives of ALS patients today, it is also dedicated to uncovering the treatments of tomorrow through innovative research and clinical trials. One current trial, called the Biogen Valor study, is focusing on patients with an inherited form of ALS. Patients with a mutation in one specific gene receive an investigational drug aimed at slowing the progression of the disease.

“This is one of the first studies in ALS to choose patients very specifically based on the molecular signature of their disease,” says Dr. Newman. “Our clinic is proud to be part of this landmark study.”

Another series of trials is aimed at improving the lifespan of those with ALS and is part of a nationwide partnership called the Northeast ALS Consortium. Clinics in the consortium are working together to offer more ALS patients access to novel drugs to more rapidly uncover effective treatments.

“We will quicken the pace of discovery with these trials,” says Dr. Newman. “The goal is to find treatments that slow disease progression and lead to longer lives.”

A Family Tradition

The newest Schmidt bequest will ensure that the clinic’s important work continues. Because ALS patients are being diagnosed earlier and living longer, the Schmidt gift is critical to ensuring that the Hoenselaar Clinic continues to offer world-class patient care to a growing patient population.

“The Schmidt bequest enables us to hire a dedicated clinic coordinator who will support patient and family needs at Henry Ford Hospital and at their homes when needed,” says Dr. Newman. “As we become busier, the coordinator will also be our liaison to what is happening across the world in ALS.”

Generosity from the Schmidt gift will also advance the clinic’s life-changing research.

“It’s incredible to see the impact that my family has had on ALS patients through the Hoenselaar Clinic,” says Lou Schmidt, Jr. “I look forward to the many new discoveries that the clinic will continue to make for ALS sufferers. I hope that together we can find more ways to slow—or even eliminate—this awful disease.”