James is a 12-year survivor of ALS. His diagnosis came after four years of symptoms, and included a back surgery that did not work. On August 23, 2013, the news that would change his life fell on him like a steel beam. To go from a healthy active person to likely having only a short time to live was truly mind blowing. The acceptance of not being able to ride bicycles any more, something he had done for over 30 years, was especially hurtful.
Eventually he had to abandon all of his physical activity. A newspaper columnist for 25 years, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, and a consultant for construction companies — all of this was no longer possible. Jim is making every effort to live with his new challenges and is so grateful for his wife, Sylvia, and daughter, Kiah, along with his ALS care team at the Veterans Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina.
