By Ron Myles
I get tired of sugar coating what's happening to me. If you want to know the truth read on.
The new year is almost here and brings new hopes and dreams.
Not so much for me, though. What I have in my future is losing the ability to walk or even stand. Being confined to a wheelchair and eventually bed. Losing my voice, so I can't complain. Losing the ability to use my hands, arms or being able to move my head.
Being a prisoner in my own body.
ALS dose all these things. But what this insidious disease leaves untouched is worse: It doesn't affect your hearing, so you can hear the disappointment in the voices of your family, that your unable to spend time playing with the grandchildren.
ALS leaves your eyes, so you can see the pain and suffering in the faces of your loved ones. ALS also leaves the brain intact, so you know all these things, and remember the good times before ALS.
You can feel the pain and suffering of your loved ones, knowing that you are responsible for all the pain. You also know that your loved ones are giving up their freedom for you.
ALS leaves them without time for themselves — it's all given to take care of you. At this point, you can't even tell them how much you love them and appreciate all their sacrifice because ALS has taken away your ability to speak.
You’re unable to put your arms around them and hug them. All you can do is lay there and cry inside.
When you get an ALS diagnosis, you are told you only have two to five years left at the most. My clock is tickin’ and it’s tickin’ fast.
What do you do? Because with ALS, the disease doesn’t care. It takes away mobility and functionality of your body. Sometimes it’s slow. Sometimes it’s fast.
I’m going to die from ALS, but it’s not going to stop me from living my life on my terms. #Seizethedays4ALS
ALS has no cure, no treatment. Without you're help, no hope. Please donate and spread the word about this insidious disease called ALS.
Ron Myles is an ambassador for ALS Canada. He resides in Hanmer.
