Living Well with ALS - a column by Dagmar Munn

Who would’ve guessed that wearing a pair of ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) while on a simple haircut trip would turn into a near disaster? But with two mini-miracles and one big lesson about living with ALS, the day was saved. Although I can tell this story in many ways, I…

Over the past six years, I’ve welcomed over 2,000 people to the ALS News Today Forums. It’s one of my many duties as a forums co-moderator. The other things I do include being alert for spammers, adding interesting topics to spark group discussions, and answering members’ questions. Although a high…

Last week, I fully intended to write a new “Living Well With ALS” column. I sat down, flipped open my laptop, gazed out the window, and got lost in a stare. As the minutes ticked by, my computer screen finally clicked off, my mind blanked out, and I had…

Do you have an ALS “inspiration folder?” I do. And I just added another name to my ever-growing list. Even though most people in my folder don’t have ALS, what inspires me is that despite their dire circumstances, they dare to have goals and find ways to…

A few days ago, a friend asked if I’d made any New Year’s resolutions. “No,” I replied, shrugging. Then I changed my mind and answered “yes.” Seeing her bewildered expression upon my contradictory response, I knew I had to explain. I used to enjoy the tradition of making resolutions every…

I named my column “Living Well with ALS” for many reasons. The most important one was that each word in the title had a deep meaning for me. Six years ago, when Bionews, the parent company of this website, invited me to write a patient column for…

Something was missing from the packet of patient information my doctor gave me on the day she told me I had ALS. But I didn’t discover that missing item until 12 months later. Why? During those months, even though I was adapting as best I could — such as…

Like many ALS patients, I had a difficult time accepting assistive devices into my life. In my case, a pair of ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs), a rollator, and a mobility scooter challenged my adaptability and sense of myself. But over time, with lots of persistence and support from my caregiver…

Dear Santa, here’s my special wish list for the holiday season. I’m not asking for toys or special treats, just your help in making my holiday social events blend better with my life with ALS. Specifically, I’m hoping you can help me when I attend social gatherings, dine in…

Can it be that we were cheering on athletes at the Olympics only a few months ago? Where did the summer go? Looking back, I realize I spent most of my summer and early fall months distracted by the hoopla of world and national events, and now I’m exhausted. I’m…