Like many MSA patients, Dezmond was first diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. When he did not respond to any of the Parkinson's medications he was prescribed, his doctors began to suspect that he had something else, eventually leading to the diagnosis of MSA. With only a few options for effective treatment and a disease that was rapidly progressing, Dezmond decided to come to China for stem cell treatment.

When Dezmond arrived in China, the disease had affected his speech so that he was beginning to have trouble speaking for longer periods of time. His mouth would become dry and his words became slurred.

The MSA had also affected Dezmond's sense of balance, making it difficult for him to walk without support. Although he was still able to walk, he would tire after a very short time, loose his balance frequently and find it very difficult to walk in a straight line or turn a sharp corner.

Rolling over in bed and even getting up from his bed or a chair was also difficult for Dezmond. Rolling over was an especially laborious process for him that required time and strength. He described the feeling as being "weighted down by something". If a chair or couch was too low, Dezmond required assistance getting out of it.

Dezmond also had trouble controlling the motor functions in his hands making it difficult for him to grasp items and control hand movements. This made daily chores like combing his hair and eating with a knife and fork difficult for him.