| Subject: ONE MORE WEEK TILL THE WALK! (And a big "THANKS!") |
Author:
Cat9
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Date Posted: 17:32:48 09/20/03 Sat
That's where I'll be next Sat morning... I'm hoping the weather will cool just a bit, since it still gets over 100 here.
A big "THANK YOU!" to those who have donated so far. Walk donations will still be accepted for a few months, and donations in general are accepted any time... .
Sadly, in the past year, I've heard of the passing of 3 ALS victims. One was an ex-coworker's wife - a talented quilt-maker, who went rather quickly once ALS affected her breathing. Hers started in the bulbar region, like MZ, but she never got to the point of using a wheelchair much (just long mall trips, etc). She was finishing quilts and emailing relatives up to the week before her death. Also in the past year, we've discovered that Mom had a great uncle and a second cousin who both had passed away from ALS, years ago.
This past Thursday, Mom came down to City Hall, where she used to work. She sat for a while with someone from the ALS chapter, at a both for the City's community service fund drive. This year, she was in her high-tech electric wheelchair and could not raise her hand to shake peoples' hands. Some former coworkers were rather shocked to see her current condition - one even burst into tears on sight. She took it all in stride, explaining what she can and can't do (including how hard it is to find a public toilet she can use, and the difficulties of traveling), and showing off all the bells & whistles on her purple wheelchair. A lot of people took brochures and promised to give their charitable payroll deduction to ALSA. (I don't know where we'd be without our ALSA chapter!).
I have a very real fear that Mom won't be around for next year's fund drive.
There's been some slightly encouraging headway on the research front. Once it's discovered what causes ALS, there's hope for a cure. But until then, there is nothing beyond experimental treatment to slow it's progress. The most that can be done is to make victims comfortable and try to delay the inevitable. The ALS Association does that, and more. They go the extra mile to assist victims and their families.
Those of you who contribute to ALSA, and/or remembering us in your thoughts and prayers, are assisting in the fight, and Mom and I are eternally grateful to you! On a more personal note, thanks for being here for ME, and thank you Holly, for letting me do this here.
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