dr. gerald raymond is helping a virginia family. >> reporter: one year ago, eric was a healthy 8-year-old from falls church. >> eric was a real fun kid. he was very imaginative. his drawings were incredible. >> he was a friend to all. he was a good kid. >> reporter: but in march of last year, eric had a stroke. he was diagnosed with a rare, often deadly neurological disorder. he was diagnosed with ald. >> it was devastating emotionally. you are standing there and you are numb and you wonder what hit you. >> reporter: as of now there is no cure but there is treatment and one of the most respected specialists happens to be in baltimore. >> once you are diagnosed with ald, everybody hears about dr. raymond. >> he gave us a lot of hope that, you know, that made that first dark weekend a little brighter. >> reporter: eric spent the next 15 weeks in a minnesota hospital but this story doesn't have a happy ending. eric died on october 25th. >> he passed away four hours shy of his ninth birthday. >> reporter: today eric's parents are fighting to raise awareness about the disorder that killed thei