Read other stories by clicking the date on the calendar.
Jeff Young

Name: Jeff Young

City, State: Lake Oswego, Oregon

Age: 45

Family:
17 year-old daughter Priya, a senior at Lake Oswego High School

Hobbies/Interests: Creative and inspirational writing, coaching football, web design, big cats and primates.

Date of ALS diagnosis: Onset of symptoms was October 1983; official diagnosis was in May of 1984.

Life before ALS: I was a college football player, an honor student and a rock guitarist.  I was determined to first conquer the music industry and then Hollywood.  My life was all about me and seeking fame and fortune.

Life with ALS: With the help of family, I have successfully raised a wonderful daughter as a single parent.  I am the motivational coach for our local high school football team, and spend my free time writing inspirational messages to the nearly 1,600 subscribers to my daily inspirational message.  Life is a daily struggle, but with the struggle comes a greater reward and the infinitely greater opportunity to inspire and set an example for others.

How has ALS brought new significance to your life: My life used to be about me and achieving my objectives.  Now, whether I am instructing, motivating or inspiring my high school football players, writing to my e-mail subscribers or working on my inspirational book, my life is now about what I can give and how I can help others.  I fell God has allowed me to have this illness for a reason, and I feel a responsibility to continue to make lemonade out of life’s lemons as an example to others.