CHARLOTTE, NC,: Some people describe their diagnosis with ALS as being given an “invisible expiration date.” Or being placed in the “ALS waiting room.” If we are honest, the healthiest people have the same condition.The only difference is they don’t deal with a debilitating disease every day. Nevertheless, the “invisibility” factor is still in that ...
Dickenson wrote "Hope is the thing with feathers." The world of ALS is a battle of hope, even if this debilitating disease is truly "for the birds."
CHARLOTTE, NC: Every day with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS is an adventure. Most of the time it’s not pleasant, but there are exceptions now and then. Sometimes, there are actually benefits, though I can’t think any at the moment. As I have mentioned on several occasions, sleeping can be one of the most challenging ...
ALS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a particularly difficult diesease as it causes the sufferer to reverse age, needing physical help as a child
CHARLOTTE, NC: One lesson ALS quickly teaches is that each day is a new experience. If “variety is the spice of life” then ALS has to rank among the “spiciest” diseases in existence. Comedian Redd Foxx would tell this one joke. Foxx would say his uncle had two regrets in his whole life. One that ...
Our first ALS story of the year ought to bring a little humor into our lives. ALS humor? They say that ALS is no laughing matter. But the truth is that laughter is often the best medicine.
CHARLOTTE, NC, December 23, 2018 — One of our many family traditions during the holidays is playing a board game after Christmas dinner. Each year we try to find a game that is new, challenging and just plain old family fun. For me personally, my favorite is still a game called “Balderdash.” Over the years ...
CHARLOTTE, NC: Sometimes with ALS it is difficult to maintain a positive attitude. It’s easy to have a “pity party” for yourself during those rare times when you are alone. Rachel Doboga, an ALS patient with advanced conditions, writes in I’m Stepping Out of the Past to Fully Appreciate the Present: “It’s hard to live in the ...
CHARLOTTE, NC: A recent e-mail from a longtime friend had a particular impact on me this week. During the early days of my travel writing career, I was invited on a trip to Rome and the Amalfi Coast by a hotel rep who specializes in family-operated properties. Having never been to Italy, I immediately accepted ...
CHARLOTTE, NC: Today is a milestone for me because it marks my 100th column about ALS since being diagnosed with the condition. Though ALS is not something anyone desires to deal with, like almost anything else, there are mixed blessings hidden within the daily rituals of overcoming the on-going adjustments the ailment presents. Most people ...
CHARLOTTE, NC: One of the keys to dealing with ALS is the ability to remain motivated while making sure to accentuate the positive. It is all about attitude. It’s a challenge that is frequently easier said than done, but it’s a must for the quality of life. Many experts believe that one of the keys to ...
CHARLOTTE, NC: Almost every American trend begins in California and works its way east. It’s been that way for decades. They were the first to ban smoking. And San Francisco gave us Sour Dough bread. So it should surprise no one that the latest fad to reach the public conscience is a ban on straws. ...
CHARLOTTE, NC: One of the key aspects of dealing with the limited mobility of ALS is to have a firm exercise goal. ALS patients are usually keenly aware of their surroundings and gradually take precautions not to turn too quickly. They pay attention to potential hazards such as rugs and other household items that can cause ...
ALS patients are currently under-diagnosed and untreated. More research is necessary as EDS or excessive daytime sleepiness is a quality of life issue.
CHARLOTTE, NC: From the moment we are born three things come naturally; breathing, sucking and swallowing. Swallowing is such a common thing that most people do it about 600 times a day and don’t even think about it. That is until that someone contracts Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS and dysphagia. Nearly 80 percent of ALS patients think ...
It may sound ungrateful, but when a person is bombarded with daily suggestions about this idea or that, many of which have already been taken into consideration, it can become overly tiring while you struggle with well-meaning intentions as you weigh your health care vs quality of life
In its own deteriorating way, ALS can certainly be bittersweet, but you should never be forgotten to share moments of frivolity and laughter in order to minimize and eliminate those times of despair. Even though ALS is no laughing matter.
Veterans Affairs and common sense are an oxymoron only George Carlin could truly appreciate. Sending me on an hour-long journey into the rural areas of Charlottesville to see a doctor to prove ALS, a known degenerative disease gets worse.
Having lived with ALS for little over a year, things have happened to me I cannot control. Does that make me a victim? It might, but I continue to live, travel, write and love. So while my body may be a victim of the disease, I am not letting it take any more of my life than it can.
The second annual Lou's Yanks vs. Bob's Sox ALS fundraiser raised over $20,000 for ALS research. But the big winners were everyone that came out and / or supported this annual event.