The Current ALS patient dies alone after paying $84K US to a Sask. facility
Dec 1, 2025
Geoff Leo, an investigative reporter with CBC News, dives into the tragic story of Susie Silvestri, a 70-year-old American woman with ALS. Her quest for alternative treatment in Moose Jaw led her to a costly and unregulated health center, where bold claims of reversing her condition met stark reality. Geoff discusses the alarming lack of scientific evidence, Susie's struggle with health setbacks, and the gap in Saskatchewan's healthcare oversight. The episode reveals the grim circumstances surrounding her lonely death, raising critical questions about patient safety and treatment efficacy.
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Patient Spends Life Savings For Hope
- Susie Silvestri sold her home and paid over $100,000 to attend the GoodNow Restorative Health Centre in Moose Jaw seeking an ALS cure.
- She arrived unable to walk or feed herself and spent tens of thousands more on a medevac to get there.
Bold Claims Lack Scientific Proof
- Dan Goodnow claimed plasmalogen deficiency causes ALS and offered supplements to reverse it without published evidence.
- Experts and the ALS Society of Canada say there is no scientific support and global researchers would be studying it if true.
Staff Skepticism Behind The Smile
- Early on Susie posted optimism and was told she'd walk out in three months, while some staff privately saw no such recoveries.
- A care worker quit after CBC exposed the centre's sales claims of a 100% success rate.