ALS News Today Columns

May 17, 2022May 17, 2022

With ALS, I Take Time for Minicelebrations Every Week

ALS News Today Columns

My week has been full of projects, online responsibilities, physical activities, minicelebrations, and, oh yes, living with ALS. And while we ALS patients often complain that having our disease is ... Read more

May 12, 2022May 12, 2022

A Diagnosis, Prom Night, and Two Special Strands of Pearls

ALS News Today Columns

In the summer of 2010, my husband, Todd, stopped at the mall after work. It was my birthday, and he hadn’t gotten me anything yet. His mind was still swirling ... Read more

May 10, 2022May 10, 2022

My ALS Strategy for National Eat What You Want Day

ALS News Today Columns

Like many ALS patients who have swallowing issues, a condition known as dysphagia, I follow a regimen of what I can and cannot eat. I’ve accepted this as my new ... Read more

May 5, 2022May 5, 2022

The Straw That Breaks the Camel’s Back

ALS News Today Columns

A couple weeks ago, one of our toilet tanks developed a crack and started leaking. I turned off the water, and while we waited for a new tank to arrive, ... Read more

May 4, 2022May 4, 2022

A Plot-twisting Cliffhanger That Leaves Me Breathless and Hospitalized

ALS News Today Columns

“Take my hand, precious Lord, Lead me home. … When my life is almost gone, Hear my cry, hear my call, Hold my hand lest I fall.” Although I fall ... Read more

May 3, 2022May 3, 2022

Why We Still Need More ALS Awareness

ALS News Today Columns

Did you know that May has been ALS Awareness Month for the past 30 years? Yes, that’s right, 30 years. Some probably think ALS awareness activities began in 2014 with ... Read more

April 28, 2022April 28, 2022

Living With ALS Takes Courage

ALS News Today Columns

Editor’s note: This column discusses suicide. Please find resources for help at the end of the column. In the “Safety Training” episode of the sitcom “The Office,” Michael Scott, the ... Read more

April 27, 2022April 27, 2022

Is It Do-si-Do or Do-si-Don’t With a New Home Healthcare Aide?

ALS News Today Columns

“I been in the right place, but it must have been the wrong time, I’d have said the right thing, but I must have used the wrong line, I’d have ... Read more

April 26, 2022April 26, 2022

Sitting Too Much? These 3 Tips Can Help

ALS News Today Columns

ALS life sure involves a lot of sitting. Although I keep myself busy with daily projects, most of what I do has me sitting at a computer. Added to that, ... Read more

April 21, 2022April 21, 2022

Identifying 5 Types of Grief That Accompany ALS

ALS News Today Columns

Author and counselor Douglas C. Smith wrote in Health and Happiness U.P. Magazine about five types of grief people are experiencing through the pandemic. As I read through the article, ... Read more

April 20, 2022April 20, 2022

A Musical Medley That Stands the Test of Time

ALS News Today Columns

“The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.”  Time fascinates me, now more than ever. In my own way, in the face of ALS, I’ve learned to enjoy ... Read more

April 19, 2022April 19, 2022

Teaching and Learning About ALS Life

ALS News Today Columns

I’m always eager to help others improve their understanding of what it’s like to live with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Likewise, I enjoy learning more about what others in the ... Read more

April 14, 2022April 14, 2022

The Benefits of Physical Therapy for ALS

ALS News Today Columns

My husband, Todd, gets twice-weekly physical therapy, which significantly improves his quality of life with ALS. Six years ago, Todd was having pain in his shoulders, and his elbows would ... Read more

April 13, 2022April 13, 2022

Simon Says, Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

ALS News Today Columns

“‘The problem is all inside your head,’ she said to me, ‘The answer is easy if you take it logically,’ … She said, ‘It grieves me so to see you ... Read more

April 7, 2022April 7, 2022

Our Bittersweet Spring Break Trip

ALS News Today Columns

I got away for a couple of nights during spring break with my 12-year-old son, Isaac, and 16-year-old daughter, Sara. It was good to have a mini-vacation, although I was ... Read more