CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Fran Hoggatt is dying from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (often called Lou Gehrig's disease).

"I thought I had a stroke," Hoggatt said.

But the tightness in her throat was the first sign of ALS.

It's gradually shutting down her body's muscles and there is no cure.

But, Fran and Jerry Hoggatt refused to give up hope and hope led them to Dr. Mitchell Ghen.

Ghen is a doctor of osteopathy based in South Carolina who has a clinic just outside Charlotte and another in suburban Atlanta where he was trying a new and controversial treatment for ALS.

It uses blood taken from the umbilical cords of newborn babies.

The blood is rich in stem cells and tests on mice have shown some promise.

ALS patients were flying into Ghen's Atlanta office to have him give them the treatment until the food and drug administration made him stop.

"The first we heard there was any problem, Ghen was served with a search warrant," said attorney Richard Jaffee.

The FDA seized patient records and cord blood.

They also contacted the blood supplier and made them stop sending it.

Ghen had to tell the Hoggatt's he couldn't help them any more.

"When he told me, I just said, they signed my death certificate," Hoggatt said.

Eyewitness News met Ghen at his office on Carowinds Boulevard.

He's at the office once a week and does not do the controversial treatment. He sees patients with chronic conditions such as cancer and heart disease.

Patients Eyewitness News spoke to used words like "amazing" and "miraculous" to describe what he's done for them.

But, the Hoggatt's still have issues with the FDA.

"How much is this lady's life worth? I've had her for 39 years. I don't want to give her up a day before I have to. And I certainly don't need my own government telling me to sit back and relax while they decide whether it's safe or not," Jerry Hoggatt said.

The FDA isn't commenting on their decision as long as Ghen and his treatment are under investigation.