ALS With Anna Vol. 1

How can I start a blog about my life with ALS without first explaining what ALS is. I need to do this because when I was told I had ALS, at first, all I knew was this is bad. That lasted about 60 seconds. Then I asked the doctor what ALS was. Then I went from this is bad to this is catastrophic! To be honest with you I don’t remember what the doctor told us said. I only remember a few key words: terminal, 3-4 years, muscles, degeneration, respiratory failure, neurons. Now, I don’t know about you, but none of that sounds good. I know the doctor told us a lot more than that, but I can’t remember what all he said. When we walked out we knew what I had, I just can’t tell you how he explained it. I believe my subconscious blocked it out and I’m just left with the emotions and the feelings of that day.

So what is this ALS I speak of? Warning! Big WORDS and lengthy definitions coming your way. Introducing dr. Anna Lewis….

ALS, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. As these nerve cells degenerate, the brain’s ability to initiate and control muscle movement is lost, leading to paralysis and, ultimately, respiratory failure. The exact cause of ALS is not yet fully understood, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

The main characteristic of ALS is the gradual degeneration and death of motor neurons, which are responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. This results in muscle weakness, twitching, and eventually, muscle atrophy. As the disease progresses, individuals with ALS may experience difficulty speaking, swallowing, and breathing. It is a devastating diagnosis that not only affects the individual suffering from the disease, but also takes a toll on their loved ones and caregivers.

There is currently no cure for ALS, and the available treatments aim to alleviate symptoms, slow down the progression of the disease, and improve the quality of life for patients. Research into potential treatments and therapies for ALS is ongoing, offering hope for better management of the condition in the future. Raise awareness about ALS and support the efforts to find a cure by getting involved in advocacy, fundraising, and spreading knowledge about this challenging disease.

Now, imagine being told all that when you thought you had so rare something that could be fixed with medication or surgery. I think I was living in denial about what was going on with me. Looking back I can see how others took what was going on with me seriously and I was aloof about the seriousness of my condition. Jason and I were completely blindsided by my diagnoses to say the least. We left that medical complex completely devastated, and with so many questions. However, I knew I had God on my side so I wasn’t completely broken. I was just broke down for a little while.

If you are interested in my ALS journey follow along with more entries to come. My goal is to bring ALS awareness to the people in my world. ALS is our new normal.

~He has a plan, and I have a purpose~

• ALS With Anna

For more information on ALS visit https://www.als.org/understanding-als