In the beginning..... with ALS

Hi, my name is Cathy, and welcome to my blog. I have recently lost my mother to ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease) It wasn't how it was suppose to happen, her dying this way. At least that is what we all thought. But it did. And this is my journey with my mother, who was also my best friend.  

When she was actually diagnosed, back on August 23, 2011, she asked that I move in with her. She needed me. And of course I did, move in that is. Before the diagnose she had had surgery for a "pinched nerve." Because for about a year her foot seemed to drop, then her leg just wouldn't move quite right. After many, (and I mean many) visits to the doctor, and after many mis-diagnoses, Mom and I decided  she needed another doctor and I was going to go with her on the visits. I journeyed (six hours) to my mom's so that I could go to the doctor with her. I am not quite. She needed that. She needed someone to stand up for her, and ask more questions and not be shut down, just because of her age. 

I had been noticing that her voice was also different. She seemed to make an effort to pronounce certain words. Almost as if she had had a stroke. But she didn't. I spoke up at the Doctor's office and he seemed to listen, now that more information was coming in. She was sent to get and MRI and a Cat-scan. Both came back with "no stroke" results. More visits to the Neurologist and then came the diagnose; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis with a life expectancy of three to five years at best. 

Wow, Really, Are they sure?!!! Why not longer, what are they not telling us? I requested all her medical records, present and past. I started reading everything I could about ALS. None of it was good! And I was not happy. None of us were. My Dad, Mom, brother and I were all in shock. Our families and close friends were in shock too. Not mom! Not Lottie! That woman was in better shape than I was, this just can't be! But it was and we needed to deal with it straight on. No coping here, time was too short for that! 

My husband and I decided that being with mom was important, so I took medical leave at work, and moved in with my parents. Mom needed me. And I needed her. I wasn't ready to lose her yet! I had to be strong for her, she was scared. I was too.