Name: Matt Williams

Hometown, State: Osage, IA

Age: 36

Family:
Wife: Val
Children: Emma (8), Zach (6), Nolan (2)

Hobbies/Interests:
Camping, turkey hunting, college football, high school athletics

Date of ALS diagnosis:
January 2006

Tell us about your life before ALS:
I had a career working as a sales professional. I was an avid golfer and enjoyed boating on the weekends. I spent many hours on “do it yourself” projects at home.

Tell us about your life with ALS:
Even with the physical difficulties, I still enjoy doing things with my family, like camping, going to sporting events and coaching Emma’s ball team. With some minor adaptive equipment, I still hunt turkeys in the spring. I just make sure to conserve energy so I can do the things I like.

Tell us how ALS has brought new significance to any aspect of your life - family, attitude, hobbies/passions, career, etc.:
ALS does bring a new perspective. For me, I make changes in my life that allow me to be as active as possible. If there was something I couldn’t do, like golf, I replaced it with camping. The disease brought a sense of urgency, also, so I decided early on that I didn’t have time to sulk and feel sorry for myself.

List your favorite quote:
“Don’t give up, don’t ever give up…” by Jim Valvano, former N.C. State basketball coach.

Do you have a “life motto” or “profound words to live by”:
I am a firm believer that no matter how bad things may seem, they can always be worse.

Has there been an “a-ha!” moment or a specific turn of events that has helped you live with ALS?
One day, shortly after my diagnosis, I was watching my kids play in the yard and it hit me… No way was I going to let this disease define our lives.

Is there anything else about you and/or ALS that you want to share with people who read your story?
I think everyone with ALS should be able to maintain a high quality of life. We have made some adjustments, but for the most part, we still participate in most of the activities that we enjoyed before ALS.