In my case, the onset was rapid. After experiencing the rigors of fatigue, increased weakness and shortness of breath, and a growing number of falls, I reached a point where I could no longer ambulate and my breathing capacity was diminished to 30%. This swift decline all occurred between the fall 2009 and the fall of 2011. I had been through five Neurologists before I landed at the ALS Clinic in San Antonio. I finally got the shocking diagnosis on Nov. 2nd 2011; “ALS” (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis a.k.a. Lou Gehrig’s disease). By that time I was unable to walk, and even breathing was labor intensive. Shortly after, on Jan. 27th 2012, I went into respiratory and renal failure, and was hospitalized with a double pneumonia. When I awoke, I had a Tracheostomy and was breathing through a ventilator. It was just the beginning of my new life!
In that moment of high stress and extreme crisis, the doctors told my wife that “with the Tracheotomy I would never be able to speak or eat again” and “that I would never have any quality of life.” Little did they know the body’s resilience, persistence, my desire to live and with the Lord’s will I am happy to say that I am still here. I must say to all …show more content…
Over time, I lost my grip and wrist control. For a few months I was able to use wrist and finger splints to continue typing. As the ALS progression continued through my arms, I engineered a sling system with thera-band hung from a feeding bag stand. This device added support to my elbows, which allowed me to continue typing for awhile longer. Clever, huh?! That idea didn’t last too long, because as expected, I arrived to the point of no use of my limbs whatsoever. I now utilize a Tobii Communicator Device with eye gaze technology. This apparatus allows me to read, write, stay in contact on social media, email, become an ALS advocate, help raise funds to find a cure, and create awareness in both English and
In that moment of high stress and extreme crisis, the doctors told my wife that “with the Tracheotomy I would never be able to speak or eat again” and “that I would never have any quality of life.” Little did they know the body’s resilience, persistence, my desire to live and with the Lord’s will I am happy to say that I am still here. I must say to all …show more content…
Over time, I lost my grip and wrist control. For a few months I was able to use wrist and finger splints to continue typing. As the ALS progression continued through my arms, I engineered a sling system with thera-band hung from a feeding bag stand. This device added support to my elbows, which allowed me to continue typing for awhile longer. Clever, huh?! That idea didn’t last too long, because as expected, I arrived to the point of no use of my limbs whatsoever. I now utilize a Tobii Communicator Device with eye gaze technology. This apparatus allows me to read, write, stay in contact on social media, email, become an ALS advocate, help raise funds to find a cure, and create awareness in both English and