If you’re on Facebook, your news feed has probably been inundated with videos of people dumping ice water on their heads. This is due to a brilliant marketing campaign by the ALS Association, and has so far raised upwards of $70 million. ALS is a neurological disease that can strike pretty much anyone at any time. There is no cure at this point. The ALS Association states that ALS patients are like snowflakes… no two are alike. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to pinpoint similarities in order to find a common thread in patients with this disease.
In January of 2013, I knew nothing about this disease, except that it was named after Lou Gehrig. (ALS is more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.) Then my own father was diagnosed. It all started with a lack of feeling, or numbness, in his right thumb and forefinger. His arms and legs would cramp and twitch. He got very weak. He went from walking, to needing a cane, to eventually using a wheelchair. He had trouble breathing, and needed a bi-pap machine, then a cough assist machine. He had a feeding tub installed exactly a year after his diagnosis. He caught pneumonia and ended up in the ICU. The doctors got rid of the pneumonia with antibiotics while dad was intubated, but he was too weak to breathe on his own after that. He passed away on March 8, 2014. He had just turned 66.
Here I am with my dad just last summer:
This disease hits home for me, and several friends have asked me how I feel about the Ice Bucket Challenge. I personally think it is wonderful! Millions of dollars have been raised to help fight this dreadful disease, and awareness is spreading like wild fire around the world! My dad would have loved it, too, seeing all of his buddies dousing themselves in ice water while helping to bring awareness to the forefront.
I’m thankful for Chris Rooker, our team leader, and Karl Waizecker, Broker at Kline May Realty, who took on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and also donated to the cause. Click the image below to watch the video:
If you’d like to donate, please visit www.alsa.org. From someone who has seen someone dear affected by this disease, it is very much appreciated. Please consider helping to STRIKE OUT ALS!
With my amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the first thing that happened almost 2 years ago now, was speaking as if I were drunk. I wasn’t. I initially did improve speech (articulating clearly but slow) but now I can no longer speak in an acceptable way. Then, a year later eating became problematic, I was biting my tongue and lips, and chewing became weak and less controlled. Soon after that some fingers started to fail me and things would drop out of my hands. Somewhere at that time bulbar ALS was diagnosed. The Rilutek (riluzole) did very little to help me. The medical team did even less. My decline was rapid and devastating.. We tried every shot available but nothing was working. There has been little if any progress in finding a reliable treatment, Our care provider introduced us to Kycuyu Health Clinic ALS/MND herbal treatment. The treatment is a miracle.i recovered significantly! I Adhere anyone reading this to try natural approach. ALS is not a death sentence.
Thanks, Jeanine! I’m sorry to hear about your brother. You are right, it is a devastating disease. I’m so grateful for the awareness and funds being raised to support this cause and hopefully find a cure.
Lisa, Thank you so much for sharing this story about your father. What a difficult road for your family to travel. I lost my brother to ALS in 2002 and know firsthand what a devastating disease this is. The Ice Bucket Challenge brings hope to so many. Thank you, Kline May, for accepting the challenge. It means so much! — Jeanine Sellers