Imagine yourself as being carefree and doing whatever you wanted to do and go whenever you wanted to go somewhere, then the unimaginable happens. You are stuck in a chair not able to do or go where and when you want to because you have a disease that takes away everything or so you think. Well that is where I was until I got over my pityparty feeling sorry for myself. Having ALS isn't a death sentence, having ALS has given me the second chance to live life without taking the simple things for granted and to appreciate living. I can't give hugs like you do and I can't feed or take care of myself the way I use too but that doesn't mean it's the end of the world. It just means I do things slower and different. About a year ago I was able to sing I never thought I was good until now. Now I have changed my opinion as I sit back and listen to what I had. Imagine being able to speak and one day you wake up finding you no longer have a voice. Imagine not being able to communicate and others guessing what your needs are. The simple things such as breathing and swallowing are not a simple thing. I ask you to imagine this because many people who have ALS go through this daily Including myself except that I still have a voice and I still breath on my own .and yet they want no sympathy
they just want a cure to be found so no one else has to suffer.
I consider myself to be one of the lucky ones, I have my family and friends to help me through this. Many others who have ALS have no one. I have been blessed in so many ways and I still continue to receive blessed gifts from many.
Recently my daughter's grandpa passed, I went to pay my respects and found myself doing something I have never been able to do except at my mom's funeral and that was me going up to the casket. I can honestly that the thought of dying or being forgotten scares me but what I am most afraid of is not being able to been their for my family needs. I know they are strong but still it's a fear.
Until that day comes I will continue to be strong and to help And give to others as much as I can and then push myself that extra mile just for good measure. Like I said earlier having ALS isn't a death sentence, it's a new way of living and appreciating what god has given me.
So now that I have depressed you I with my thoughts just know I am a very lucky and a very happy person wanting and willing to pay it forward with all my strength and might.
