Columns

How I Live With Gravity, Coincidence, and ALS

I’ll admit that during my high school days, when our studies turned toward physics, I didn’t pay much attention. Gravity, the invisible force that keeps us on the ground and makes things fall, seemed so bo-ring. But in 2010, when I was diagnosed with ALS, the condition put me through…

With Clinical Trial Criteria, We’re Stuck on the Outside, Looking In

“Have you ever participated in clinical trials?” That’s a common question among ALS patients. What’s my standard answer? “It’s complicated. I’m participating in several studies, but even though I’d like to, I haven’t been in any clinical trials. I’m excluded because I’ve had ALS for too many years.” ‘What? Tell…

Echo! Can You Understand Me, Now?

Last week, I stepped onto my soapbox (mine has special safety handrails) and voiced my opinion about an issue that’s been bugging me for several years. It’s a problem I share with about 7.5 million other people who have trouble using their voices and cannot get voice-activated devices to…

Like It or Not, My Steak Is Rare

“There’s an old joke, um … two elderly women are at a Catskill mountain resort, and one of ’em says, ‘Boy, the food at this place is really terrible.’ The other one says, ‘Yeah, I know — and such small portions.’ Well, that’s essentially how I feel about…

Lessons I Learned From My AFOs

I’m happy to announce I’ve finally resolved a love-hate relationship — with my AFOs. It took persistence, but I can now step into my white, molded plastic ankle-foot orthoses and walk pain-free. That’s important to me because I want to keep walking for as long as possible, and my…

Facing Winter Together and Fighting as Best as We Can

It’s been an intense couple weeks of winter weather on Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. After a mild January with many sunny days, the first two weeks of February made up for it with over 40 inches of snowfall, along with below-zero to single-digit temperatures. I had been getting out…