Steve Gleason and the fight for ALS research

I know I said I would show you some

artwork today...

but

 I couldn't get this man off my mind today.

 Steve Gleason

former NFL player

who was diagnosed with ALS in 2011

My great aunt whom I was very close to

was diagnosed with ALS

in her 70's.

When I mention ALS to people they usually have

no idea what the disease is.

They have probably heard it called Lou Gherig's

but

 they don't know WHAT 

ALS does to a person.

Once I give a brief description 

they usually get this awful look on their face

and say

 "Oh, wow - that is horrible"

I am thankful to Steve and his foundation for championing

this cause and giving it a face.

He could have quickly left the public eye

but instead he chose the time he has to try and make a difference.

The blog for his site is what I find

most interesting...

stories of others making it as best they can..

teamgleasonexperiment.org

I'd like to give you a tidbit

of what my experience with my Aunt was...

We'd go to visit her at least once or twice a year.

She lived about 5 hours away.

We always had a blast out in the country...

picking blueberries, thrift shopping, talking for hours on end.

This is my Aunt and Uncle

circa WWII on my Great Grandmother's porch.

I can't remember how many months before she was diagnosed-

but I was visiting her for a few days with my mother...

she mentioned in one of our conversations that she

was having trouble swallowing

sometimes.

She was clearing her throat a lot and she asked if

I ever just felt like I got choked up for no reason?

Seemed odd to me 

but I said no and thought nothing of it.

I told her maybe she was getting dry mouth due to some of her meds.

Something I see a lot with my patients at work.

Shortly after this visit

 she was diagnosed w/ ALS.

The odd thing in her case was she was experiencing a lot of the symptoms in

reverse from most patients.

She lost the ability to swallow and speak early on.

She HATED not being able to talk when we came to visit.

She'd furiously write on a notepad we gave her when we saw she

couldn't choke out more than a few words.

I do mean choke.

She dealt with it though, she was tough and amazing.

She had to start feeding herself with a tube the next time

I saw her.

Most patients lose the ability to do these things last from what

I understand.

Most lose the functions of hands,arms,legs,etc.

then the speech and eating.

The hardest part was her mind was still so sharp and exactly the same.

It is like you live in this fragile shell you lose control of

only to still be the same person mentally.

She eventually was confined to her home and then bed.

If I remember correctly the process for her was maybe 2 to 2 and a half

years from diagnosis .

If you don't know much about ALS

please take a look at Steve's site.

I felt like this was one of those days

where the 

"My creative Journey in Life, Love, Art, and Junking"

was reflected by my aunt.

People like Steve and my aunt

they inspire me to live life as full as I can mange.

All this rolls into my inspiration for my artwork in a way

as well.

I just wanted to share this and hope

you may learn something or be inspired yourself.

Thanks for visiting -

Artwork will be next - promise!