In 1996, I noticed that when I'd reach for a blanket to pull over me, my hand wouldn't cooperate, it had no strength - and it wasn't asleep.
I saw several specialists, underwent many ugly tests, and ultimately was diagnosed with ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. What a life changing moment that was. In retrospect, I am a much better person because of ALS. Having a fatal disease causes a person to reevaluate their entire life.
I now greatly appreciate and enjoy the blessings that God has bestowed upon me even more - from all the beauty in nature, to a roof over my head and a soft, comfortable bed to sleep in, to the small blessings like toothpaste and toilet paper. Most of the world's population do not have these small luxuries.
Although I've been in a wheelchair for 9 years, need to use a bipap machine to assist my breathing at night, and have a feeding tube in my stomach, life is good! Life expectancy for ALS after diagnosis is 3-5 years, so I thank the good Lord above for the slow progression of this disease.
To learn more about ALS, please visit http://patientslikeme.com/
