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KING: I didn't know that. HUFFARD: So, I think he has a sense of what it means for a family to suffer with the disease? KING: How are your daughters dealing with it? Michael said how much he misses his dealing with them? HUFFARD: It's so hard for them. KING: How old are they? HUFFARD: Twelve and 15. It's really hard for them. You know, it's scary when he falls, and they're both really good girls. They're right there for him. But it's hard. It's hard for them, you know, but it's going to work out. You know, they're going to grow from it, and... KING: Pat, how long have you committed to Michael's working on the program. FILI KRUSHEL: We originally anticipated about ten times he'd be on the show over a three-month period. We've already exceeded that, and we told Michael and Susan that as long as Michael feels comfortable working on the show, we will reoccur the character. KING: This is like ad infinitum. FILI KRUSHEL: Yes. As long as he feels comfortable, we have a story to tell. KING: All right. Doctor, will that help -- the fact that they have Michael on television, in your opinion? LOMBARD: I think so. I think, to reiterate what Pat said, or what Michael said before, even though that Michael's has lost his physical ability to speak, his appearance on the soap opera has given a larger voice to ALS, definitely. KING: Now, as concerning ALS, doctor: optimistic, pessimistic, too early? LOMBARD: I am cautiously optimistic. I, actually, am hoping that we can develop effective therapies that could slow the progression of ALS. I think a cure is probably much further along the lines, but I do think that there is in place a lot of basic science which explains what causes ALS, and that this basic science could be translated into effective treatments. KING: Well, do you think with advances in gene therapy, we may know someone early in life who is going to get this and then doing something about their not getting it? LOMBARD: That's 100 percent. It's a very insightful question, and I agree that that probably will be there, somewhere down the pipeline. Absolutely. KING: So, in the history of this, your husband is probably going to be a hero? HUFFARD: Absolutely. KING: And you're proud of that? You've got a lot of moxie. I mean, a lot of people would shirk all this and just stay home. HUFFARD: Yes. Well, neither one of us, you know, I mean, we couldn't go to beach with something like this going on. We've got to get out there, and I feel better when I'm out there. KING: You're optimistic? I love that. And, Pat, the response from the audience has been, as you said, terrific, right? FILI KRUSHEL: Overwhelmingly, positive. Not one single negative letter. Let me repeat the phone number, the 800 number, it deals with -- this is the number that deals with Michael's angels and... HUFFARD: ZazAngels. KING: ... the fight against ALS. The number is 1-800-782-4747. We thank Michael Zaslow, Susan Hufford, Pat Fili Krushel -- I've been saying it wrong all night. What's the name, Pat? FILI KRUSHEL: Pat Fili Krushel. KING: I'm always wrong. And Dr. Jay Lombard, and I think Michael wants to add a word. ZASLOW: Bless you, Pat. HUFFARD: Bless you, Pat. KING: Thank you, Michael. Thank you for watching. We'll see you on another edition of LARRY KING LIVE. Don't go away. Good night. TO PURCHASE A VIDEOTAPE OF THIS PIECE, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS.