I’m Still Functioning
Speak clearly Use a fork and knife when you eat Hand-write your thank you notes The above (plus a few more) were on my mother’s list of good manners that she expected me…
Living Well With ALS
— Dagmar Munn
When Dagmar Munn was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 59 in 2010, she tapped into her nearly 30 years of professional health and wellness experience. She not only follows her own advice but also inspires and teaches others to do the same. In addition to her columnist role, she is one of the moderators for the ALS News Today Forums and writes a personal blog called “ALS and Wellness.” She lives with her husband in Green Valley, Arizona, enjoying finding humor in life’s situations and spending free time pursuing creative projects in fiber arts.
Featured Post
What I do when I’m feeling unmotivated in life with ALS
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…
Read more
Robots, Technology, and A.I. — ‘Oh My!’
It seems to me that learning to live with ALS now requires a crash course in Technology 101. Gone are the days of having to rely solely on other human beings…
Too Many Names, Too Little Time
I think we all can agree that ALS is one confusing disease. Confusing not only to medical experts worldwide, who can’t point to a cause or find a cure, but also it…
Discovering How to Move Again
Having spent most of my life pursuing gymnastics and dance, being able to move with balance and symmetry was for me a priority. That meant keeping my body’s left and right…
Finding Balance on Your Life’s Journey
My recent columns about rollators, scooters and electric grocery carts brought many positive comments from readers who shared their own similar experiences. From these comments, I noted how when living with a…
Learning to Roll Through Life with Rollators
Did you know that walkers weren’t invented until the 1950s? I shudder to think how mobility-challenged people managed to get around, or didn’t, before that time. And it wasn’t until 1978,…
Want to Exercise? Webinar Gives a Resounding Thumbs-Up
Last week, I had the opportunity to listen to an exciting and encouraging webinar on “Exercise and ALS: A Discussion of Research and Practical Recommendations.” Of course, I…
Give a Scooter a Try: It Can Be Wheelie Fun
Like so many who live with ALS, I have weak muscles in my lower legs that limit my mobility. To help me roam through the house, I rely on a walker with wheels. I…
Avoid Mental Potholes While Navigating Your Life
In my last column, I shared how I’m always on alert for speed bumps as I travel down life’s highway, while living with ALS. These are the metaphorical unknowns that pop up, and challenge…
How to Have a Positive Mindset While Living with ALS
I have a good friend who also lives with a life-threatening illness; mine is ALS, her’s is cancer. Recently we visited, and I asked how things were going. Smiling broadly, she replied, “Oh, I’m…
Meet Me for Dinner! Dining Out with ALS
“How about we try that new place that just opened up near the mall?” I knew my husband was referring to the new restaurant in town. In the old days, I’d simply agree and…
Surviving the Dentist with the New Normal of ALS
Living with ALS means learning to live with a whole new normal. For example, before ALS, my old normal included diligently following recommended guidelines for annual health screening, such as monitoring bone density. This…
