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Hometown, state: Brookings, S.D.
Age: 61
Family (spouse/partner; child, grandchildren): My husband Lonnie, two grown children and two grandchildren.
Hobbies/Interests: My grandchildren, movies, reading, TV, Bunco.
Favorite quote: Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
Date of ALS diagnosis: July 27, 2007
Tell us about your life before ALS: Enjoyed trips to Vegas, attending grandson’s activities, watching local college basketball, socializing with group of friends who have been together for 35 years. Worked at a job I loved for the past 20 years.
Tell us about your life with ALS: Due to progression of ALS took early retirement from job, sold our tri-level house to move to one with no steps. Unable to spend as much time with grandchildren; travel is difficult; learning that this is not an “accessible” world.
Do you have a “life motto” or profound words to live by? If you’re on thin ice, you might as well dance.
Has there been an “aha!” moment or a specific turn of events that has helped you live with ALS? Attending ALS support group for the first time and being inspired by the way everyone handles this terrible disease with humor and dignity. This close-knit group is like a second family, and everyone cares about each other. We can laugh together, cry together and give each other advice.
Tell us how ALS has brought new significance to any aspect of your life — family, attitude, hobbies/passions, career, etc.: You find out who your true friends are — the ones who will stick by you and help you. You also realize how far we have to go to make places more accessible and how much easier it would be if all businesses would embrace change to make life easier for people with disabilities. |
