Name: Henry J. McGillicuddy

City, State: New York, New York

Age: 70

Family:
Fiancé -  Eileen Nolan
Children – Cathleen and Henry J. McGillicuddy
Grandchildren – Ryan and Matt McGillicuddy

Hobbies/Interests:Golf, sports, watching all the kids in the family at their sporting events, going to games, eating out, watching movies, walks.  I love the outdoors.

Date of ALS diagnosis: March, 2004

Life before ALS: I practically never sat still.  I loved golfing, going to meetings, attending sporting events, going out to dinners and the movies.  You could describe me as the “pop-in” visitor.  I loved to make people laugh!!!

Life with ALS: I’m no longer able to get out and enjoy the outdoors as I once loved to.  I spend most of my time “at home” – thank God with my fiancé Eileen and my daughter Cathleen.

How has ALS brought new significance to your life: I must say that following the shock of the diagnosis I began to live my life “today” instead of putting dreams and wishes off until tomorrow.  I began to travel; I went to Ireland, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain, plus a cruise and several trips within the States.  I’ve become more expressive of my love to my family and friends.  At one point, I must say that I’d become very depressed.  However, thanks to my family, a strong faith and some caring physicians I came out of it and find that I have a pretty good quality to my life regardless of the progression of my disease.  I am “living” with ALS.  I have extreme gratitude to my faith, my loved ones, my friends and associations such as MDA.  I’m still managing to keep the laughter going.