The most intense ten minutes of my life occurred this past fall. It was September 24th, the time was about 12:30pm. These ten minutes will stay with me for the rest of my life. They have made their mark on my family and I, and have changed our lives forever.
I was just awaking from the crazy night before. Our high school football team played a great game, and some friends and I stayed out late celebrating. I had my fake baby in my room with me for my child psychology class. It woke me up a total of 13 times that night. My mom walked through the door seeming very poise and calm. I expected her to come in my room and tell me to pick up the clothes from the ground, or ask for my laundry. Instead, she informed me that a family meeting would be …show more content…
I called my sister Morgan into my room and asked, “Is it ALS?” Morgan was sitting facing away from me, seated crisscross applesauce. She looked at the ground and said “Yes.” All I could even think of saying was “No, no, no, no, no!!” Tears were welling in my eyes but I knew it wasn’t true. Dad did not have ALS, that couldn’t be true.
If you do not know what ALS is, here is what you need to know. ASL is otherwise known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. This disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. It affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Eventually ALS leave the patient completely paralyzed, and unable to speak. Their minds stay sharp, so it is as if they are trapped inside their own bodies. There is no cure for ALS, most patients die in two to five years after first noticing symptoms. Many patients die from respiratory failure, of course there are other ways but this is the most common …show more content…
My brother asked, “Is it 100% ALS?” My mom responded telling him that it was. His head sunk back into the couch and tears came streaming down his cheeks. This was the most heart wrenching, intense, and emotion filled moment I’ve even been apart of. I then knew true heartbreak. The type of heartbreak leaves a hole that won’t ever be replaced or fully healed. My world crumbled beneath my feet. We were all left feeling absolutely shattered, empty, and hopeless. I tried to think the situation backwards and forwards as many times as possible. All I wanted was for someone or something to say that it was not true. The thought of losing my dad before I even graduate high school was sickening. The tears kept coming, and so did the questions.
Are we going to move to a handicap accessible home? Will we be able to afford the cost of medical equipment? How much will in-home handicap renovations cost? Who is going to walk me down the aisle at my wedding? All of these questions were flying through the
I was just awaking from the crazy night before. Our high school football team played a great game, and some friends and I stayed out late celebrating. I had my fake baby in my room with me for my child psychology class. It woke me up a total of 13 times that night. My mom walked through the door seeming very poise and calm. I expected her to come in my room and tell me to pick up the clothes from the ground, or ask for my laundry. Instead, she informed me that a family meeting would be …show more content…
I called my sister Morgan into my room and asked, “Is it ALS?” Morgan was sitting facing away from me, seated crisscross applesauce. She looked at the ground and said “Yes.” All I could even think of saying was “No, no, no, no, no!!” Tears were welling in my eyes but I knew it wasn’t true. Dad did not have ALS, that couldn’t be true.
If you do not know what ALS is, here is what you need to know. ASL is otherwise known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. This disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. It affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Eventually ALS leave the patient completely paralyzed, and unable to speak. Their minds stay sharp, so it is as if they are trapped inside their own bodies. There is no cure for ALS, most patients die in two to five years after first noticing symptoms. Many patients die from respiratory failure, of course there are other ways but this is the most common …show more content…
My brother asked, “Is it 100% ALS?” My mom responded telling him that it was. His head sunk back into the couch and tears came streaming down his cheeks. This was the most heart wrenching, intense, and emotion filled moment I’ve even been apart of. I then knew true heartbreak. The type of heartbreak leaves a hole that won’t ever be replaced or fully healed. My world crumbled beneath my feet. We were all left feeling absolutely shattered, empty, and hopeless. I tried to think the situation backwards and forwards as many times as possible. All I wanted was for someone or something to say that it was not true. The thought of losing my dad before I even graduate high school was sickening. The tears kept coming, and so did the questions.
Are we going to move to a handicap accessible home? Will we be able to afford the cost of medical equipment? How much will in-home handicap renovations cost? Who is going to walk me down the aisle at my wedding? All of these questions were flying through the