I think most Moose Jaw residents know me already. Since I moved here from Victoria, in 2000, I have been a mall walker, a writer for the Moose Jaw Express, and a member of Hillcrest Apostolic. In 2005, I was diagnosed with ALS, At one time there were seven of us Moose Javians with ALS, including Gary Hyland. I am the only one of those seven still living, but others have since been diagnosed.
Usually, ALS affects the limbs first, but I have Bulbar ALS which affects speech and swallowing first. I am still able to walk and drive, but am slowly losing muscle strength.
A few years ago I walked from Regina to Lumsden (24 K) in an ALS fundraiser. Blisters? Yes! On my 75th birthday my family took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge. Now in my 80th year, I have written a book, ALS MEETS CHRIST. Don’t expect it to be a dry read, there is a good amount of humor in it too, such as my uneducated explanation of ALS — Zinc and Copper were happily married, living in my brain with their well-behaved muscle children. No one knows why but Copper and Zinc had a falling out, and they divorced. Each went their own way abdicating all responsibilities for their muscle children. Neglected and undernourished, the muscle children eventually became weak, angry and totally dysfunctional.
This book explains the symptoms of ALS, how it is diagnosed, and how it progresses. There is no cure for ALS and average the life expectancy is two-to-five years. So my book is full of ways to deal with it and the final outcome.
It tells the story of Lou Gehrig and why ALS is called Lou Gehrig’s disease, how to get involved with the ALS Society and how they can help you. I share ideas on how to help your family respond to this news, things to say and plans to make, like making a Bucket List. It talks about how to leave a legacy, how to resolved broken relations, and what’s available for long term care.
Yes, there is a spiritual aspect to the book too; how to deal with questions, fear, anger and upcoming death.
I will be holding a book launch at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, in the foyer of Hillcrest Apostolic Church. I hope you will come, if only for the great snacks my daughters have planned. The contents of this book relate to any terminal illness, so you might want to buy a book too, or two.
-- Carol Ferguson
