My story about ALS

A few months ago, my uncle Jimmy was diagnosed with ALS. ALS or "Lou Gehrig's Disease" attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy. It doesn't just go away. It is not contagious, but it is fatal. He cant talk very long without being out of breath and it is very hard for him to walk around on his own. There is not a cure or treatment today that stops or reverses ALS, but there is one FDA approved drug that modestly slows the progression of ALS. My family and I are having a rough time dealing with the fact that one day, he may not be with us anymore. For me, I am having a very hard time dealing with it, because to me he is slowly dying from the inside out... I really wish that this disease did not exist!

Other facts you should know about ALS

•  ALS occurs throughout the world
• It can strike anyone
• The treatment for ALS consists of one drug called "Riluzole"
• About 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year
• There can be significant costs for medical care
• The life expectancy of an ALS patient averages about two to five years from the time of diagnosis