I hate ALS.
This disease took more from Dad than his final breath:
ALS stole his speech.
ALS stole his ability to eat, or even swallow his own saliva.
ALS stole enjoying a cup of coffee with friends at Waffle House.
ALS stole cruising through the mountains on his Harley.
ALS stole wood-chopping and physical chores he enjoyed.
ALS stole a good mechanic’s ability to work on his own car.
ALS stole hiking in the woods.
ALS stole his pride.
ALS stole his independence.
ALS stole his enjoyment of life.
ALS stole his laughter.
ALS stole his hope.
ALS stole my dad long before he died.
ALS, (aka Lou Gehrig’s disease) turned my father into a man I hardly knew. A man who didn’t know who to be or how to live if he couldn’t do all the things that made him, him.
There is no cure for this disease.
Current treatments may extend life a few months or make a person slightly more comfortable as their body betrays them little by little — but that’s poor consolation to anyone diagnosed with what is essentially a slow, cruel death sentence. It’s cruel to the victims of the disease, and cruel to all who care about them.
Every 90 minutes, someone in America is diagnosed with ALS, and someone else loses the battle against the disease.
May is ALS Awareness Month.
It’s also the month of my dad’s birthday.
Please consider making a donation to the ALS Assocation.
Even more importantly, please PRAY for everyone affected by the disease: in particular that they would not lose faith in the midst of the horrors of ALS. And please pray for all medical personnel who interact with ALS patients, especially that they would have great compassion for what the patients and their families are going through.
I’m a big fan of authentic conversation and always appreciate hearing what you have to say. Thanks for reading.
4 responses to “ALS Awareness Month”
Jamie, praying for you and your family. You are a blessing by raising awareness about ALS – I know you will help many walk this path – your voice is gentle, but strong and filled with grace.
I believe I’ve shared this before but our family can totally relate to you since my father-n-law was diagnosed in 2008 with PSP (Progressive Supernuclear Palsy). At first the diagnosis was just dementia, but then after a couple of years, they were able to correctly identify the disease based on his symptoms. It is so hard to watch a strong, hard-working man have to be taken care of in almost every way now. PSP has it’s differences, of course, then what you described in your post, but there are many, many things the same. PSP also has no cure. It is not what kills the person, usually pneumonia or choking will take the person with PSP.
I have to remind myself that we live in a fallen world and that until Christ returns, we can’t expect it to all be perfect. I do pray that God will possibly give a person here on earth the wisdom/ability to figure out the reasons behind these diseases, but if He chooses to keep these a mystery, then I have to trust that He knows best and has a perfect plan. And watching someone go through this brings you to your knees in total dependency upon Christ, because there isn’t anything we can do but love and pray for those that are suffering and give them the best care we can and to also support and love the caregiver. My MIL is currently taking care of her husband and it is a full-time job and will only grow more difficult. She is demonstrating so perfectly though a love for her spouse in her care for him. I’m thankful for both of their attitudes even though there are many days filled with tears and longing of things to be different.
Thanks for sharing your heart., hope you don’t mind me sharing my thoughts too.
Nancy
My husband was diagnosed with ALS on may 1st 2015 and confirmed by an ALS specialist on June 22, 2015
Being the wife and caretaker I’m having issues of being responsible for all things most of which I have no clue about
I find myself so overwhelmed wih emotion it sucks
I am so sorry to hear about your husband’s diagnosis. It’s hard, for sure, and my prayers are with you.