Warrior for Life

"Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth..." Lou Gehrig

Like Lou, I got a bad break when on September 28, 2010 my neurologist confirmed that I have ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.  My hope is that in sharing my life with ALS, friends, family and others will be able to keep up with my health updates and maybe someone will learn something new or be encouraged or, dare I say, even be inspired. 

One of the things that I've learned already is that most people know very little about ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), heck all I knew was that I didn't want to have it. Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease marked by gradual degeneration of the nerve cells in the central nervous system that control voluntary muscle movement. Eventually, all muscles under voluntary control are affected, and patients lose their strength and the ability to move their arms, legs, and body. When muscles in the diaphragm and chest wall fail, patients lose the ability to breathe without the support of a ventilator. Most people with ALS die from respiratory failure, usually within 3 to 5 years from the onset of symptoms. See, now you know why I didn't want to have it and why ALSucks!


WOW! After recovering from the stunning reality that the diagnosis brings with it, I decided to commit to two things: 1) I would remain strong in my Christian faith; 2) I would retain my sense of humor.  Hopefully, you will experience both of these in the stories I share with you,but be warned, the aforementioned sense of humor can be a little "quirky", just ask my family. 


So about a year after what I now know were the first symptoms, and three months after diagnosis my life is already very different from what I ever dreamed it would be.  Physically, I am still able to walk with the use of a cane and AFOs(story for another day); I have no trouble with speaking and swallowing and breathing is still good. Strength in my right arm is minimal but I still have some use of it while adapting to doing a lot of tasks left handed. I made my first public appearance in a wheelchair to go Christmas shopping with my wife at the mall, and it wasn't so bad. I am now retired at age 50 since I can no longer perform my job duties to the standards I hold myself to.  Despite all of these changes, I am looking forward to living the rest of my life to the fullest and have a whole new perspective and set of priorities.   


Thank you to my friends and especially my family who are traveling this path with me, without your love and support I wouldn't be able to embrace the future God has planned for me.  Gina, I appreciate and love you so much, thanks for laughing instead of crying and thanks for your strength, you are the best.