~Volunteering~
What is ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),
often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease,"
is a progressive neurodegenerative disease
that affects nerve cells
in the brain and the spinal cord.
every 90 minutes
another person will be diagnosed with the disease.
Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.
8 years ago my grandma was diagnosed with ALS.
it took almost 1 1/2 years for doctors to figure out
what was happening to her.
this fierce disease affects more and more
and all different from the start
usually it starts in the feet
and works it way up through the body
attacking violently
with no known cause to WHY it chose its person.
for my grandma
it started in her throat.
choking
having a difficult time eating
thoughts become hard to get out
her voice become strangled
her hands becoming difficult to use
her walking slowed
and soon
there was NO VOICE
there was no EATING
there was NO WALKING
she was told 6 months
after being diagnosed
She fought hard
never willing to give up
an inspiration to my whole family
She lost her battle almost 2 years later...
ALS had won
imagine
you right now
your mind well
your thoughts clear
yet you can not express what you want
imagine
your body slowly paralizing
and
THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN STOP IT
there are no treatments
no medications
they are slowly learning the whys
finding new tools to help
but THEY ARE STILL SO FAR AWAY
ALS...is just that
for the last couple years
i have been a team captain
organize
and gather family friends
to join my side
as i walk in memory
remembering
a beautiful soul
who is no longer with us
i walk to be a small part
maybe helping to make a difference with research
by my efforts made in just a few days
well...the other day
i recieved an email for volunteers
YUP
i have signed up to help
officially i have not begun anything
i am on the list and waiting for my packet
but
it is another start in the right direction
hopefully being apart of making
a change
for another
one who will be diagnosed
yet
will be told of their options
to help slow or stop
ALS from further attacking their body
i do believe one day
all these stories
of lives lost
to this dispicable disease
will be a faint memory
for there one day will be a CURE
~small steps right~
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