It has been over three years since I was officially diagnosed with a variant of ALS called Brachial Amyotrophic Diplegia. BAD, which is what I have is not fatal like normal ALS. BAD just effects my arms and shoulders making my life with BAD a real struggle. I know that I am lucky just to be alive. The "average" survival rate of people diagnosed with ALS is 3 to 5 years. Every 90 minutes in this country alone, Lou Gehrig's disease ends another life...Every 90 minutes another person is diagnosed with ALS.
I have a slowly progressing form of ALS. My spirit is still willing, but my body is not always able to do what I would like it to do. My wife is my caregiver. She helps me get dressed along with many other tasks that I can't do. We have several people who help. Youth from Extra Hands for ALS come often and help me and my wife do things that they can help with. My Physical Therapist and the people at the clinic have done many marvelous improvements to both my body and spirit. I have not had to wear braces on my arms in almost two years. The braces pulled my arms up into my shoulder. My left arm was dislocated almost two inches. It is now almost back into my shoulder. My balance is not good and I use an electric wheel chair most of the time to keep from falling unnecessarily.
I am 66 years old and a Grandfather of thirteen and a Great Grandfather of eight. Sometimes it just doesn't seem fair to me, or to my wife, that ALS is weakening my muscles and draining my energy. It's a full time job for me to keep my body going. Life is not fair. We must play the cards we are dealt to keep playing the game of life. The victory is in making a positive difference, giving others hope, and learning compassion from every adversity that happens to fall in our path.
On Saturday, October 7th, my team "Jerry's Friends" will be participating in the ALS Association of North Texas Walk to D'feet ALS to raise awareness and funds to support the ALS Association. Their services and support have helped my family, and I want to help them find a cure for ALS, and to continue helping families throughout the North Texas Area who are battling ALS.
I am captaining the walk team, and I invite you to walk (or roll) 3.3 miles with us at beautiful Baughman Lake Park in Dallas or sponsor our efforts this year by making a donation as a virtual walker.
Register to walk with us or donate on-line by clicking on the link below.
www.alsanorthtexas.org click on the link for the Walk to D'Feet ALS and register to donate or walk.
Jerry Weygandt, Plano, TX
Not driving since 2002
dx 3/04 with BAD (Brachial Amyotrophic Diplegia) a rare variant of ALS
Anterior Spinal Discectomy in 2000
Electric Wheelchair Jazzy 600 12/05 (my Hummer H4)
Freedom Wheelchair Lift on rear of Chevrolet Trailblazer
Using Shortkeys for signature blocks
Using hands free mouse by NaturlPoint
Using hands free phone by Ameriphone with Voice Dialer VC33
Linear Mode
