My journey began sometime between 2003 and 2006. In the beginning, the symptoms were subtle and sporadic. When you are in otherwise fairly good health, it’s easy to dismiss or overlook the changes in your body. First, it started with severe muscle cramps in my legs. I was somewhat immobile due to recent surgery, so I just attributed the cramping …
My Turn: Mitch Shaver
My name is Mitch Shaver. I’m 45 years of age with a beautiful wife, Rhonda, and two amazing children. Rhonda and I will be celebrating our 19th wedding anniversary this fall. Our son, Merick is 16 and a junior in high school. Our daughter Mariah is 15 and a sophomore. My first symptom noticed was on a business trip in …
My Turn: Silver Linings
By Rhonda Shaver On January 30, 2018 my husband Mitch heard three letters that would determine his future…ALS. As an individual hears these letters and places them with a diagnosis many thoughts and emotions can swell up inside. On this particular day, I sat in the room and watched my husband process those 3 letters as if it was another …
My Turn: How We Deal With The 3 D’s
by: pALS Bob Masserang My name is Bob Masserang and I have a disease. I also have a wonderful wife, Judy, who is married to me and my disease. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS or “Lou Gehrig’s disease”. No matter how you say it, it can be depressing, deflating and, in the end, deadly – the 3 D’s. I was given …
My Turn: Kathy & Kris
by: Freddy Martinez -Please let me tell you a story about 2 beautiful women named Kathy and Kris, our guardian angels who on this day and always, our hearts so sorely miss. -As sisters they surely loved each other, as all sisters do…Forging an incomparable bond, one that would be shared by only those two. -Together they grew up and …
My Turn: Life Doesn’t Have To Stop Because Of ALS
by: Porsha Chalmers My husband Brian and I have always considered ourselves to be just regular people. We both served our country as Marines. Brian’s tour of duty was in Desert Storm and I was stationed on the East Coast. We married, had a son and now we live in a bungalow in Lincoln Park. Our greatest joys have always …
My Turn: What Am I Truly Feeling?
by: Regis Kleiss Regis Kleiss lives in Royal Oak, MI. A self-taught poet, Regis has written more than 200 poems that touch on a myriad of topics. This poem expresses his feelings about being diagnosed with ALS this year at age 25. Regis is a 2003 graduate from Dondero High School. While at Dondero he was Captain of the Track …