“Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering, and the lonely, right where you are — in your own homes and in your own families, in your workplaces and in your schools. You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have eyes to see.” — Mother…
Last week was good; nothing bad happened to me. Not that I was expecting bad things to happen, but as someone who lives with ALS, I feel pretty darn successful whenever I can look back and note that things went well. I know, I know: Writing about a calm,…
Have you ever tried to assemble something or repair something only to finally give up and seek help? Such episodes were among my greatest frustrations before I was stricken with ALS. In retrospect, they feel like mere child’s play when compared with what I go through now. As a…
A number of years ago, during my first year of learning to live with ALS, I promised myself that I’d show up every single day. At that time, my notion of showing up meant my goal was simply to get up, get dressed, and go sit in the…
One evening last week after I’d finished cooking dinner, I grew concerned. My almost 14-year-old son had gone out to ride his dirt bike on an off-road vehicle (ORV) trail that ran next to our property. He’d planned to go only to a nature area a couple miles away and…
The axeALS Foundation is inviting people in the U.S. with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and demonstrable financial needs to apply for a grant to defray the cost of living with the progressive neurodegenerative disease. The application deadline is midnight Aug. 15. Institutions may apply as well, although…
A couple weeks ago, a friend asked me, “What are you going to do for your birthday?” “We’ll just have a family dinner and play games,” I said. “That’s all I want.” When my husband, Todd, and I were married, we might have gone on a weekend getaway or out…
Six years ago, I was a new patient columnist for ALS News Today and wrote a column about how planning ahead helps me dine out with ease. But since that time, my ALS has evolved — and so have my plans. Instead of a rollator, I now…
When I took my son to the doctor for his sports physical, the nurse went through a checklist of health history questions. The exchange took an unexpected turn when she asked about my husband’s health. “Is Dad healthy?” “No. He has ALS.” The nurse glanced at her computer screen.
Last month, a series of health issues bombarded me. They flew in on top of my usual ALS symptoms, causing me to become frustrated and ask, “Has this become my new normal?” But the advice I once received from a TV game show host rescued me — advice that…
Get regular updates to your inbox.