ALS News Today Columns

July 14, 2020July 14, 2020

Checking In on My Life With ALS During Lockdown

ALS News Today Columns, COVID-19 Columns

Oh my! We’re still facing challenges brought on by the pandemic and most likely will continue doing so for some time. Right now I’m feeling the loss of being able ... Read more

July 9, 2020July 9, 2020

Making Mental Notes While He’s Still Here

ALS News Today Columns

After our second child was born — back when my husband, Todd, had an undiagnosed weak left arm — we purchased a used minivan. We found the van on Craigslist ... Read more

July 2, 2020July 6, 2020

Learning How to Help from 5 Phone Calls

ALS News Today Columns

Nine months after my husband, Todd, was diagnosed with ALS, he entered a social media contest with a $100,000 grand prize to use to fulfill a dream. Contestants with the ... Read more

June 30, 2020June 30, 2020

My Cuisine Adventures While Living with ALS

ALS News Today Columns, COVID-19 Columns

Recently, my husband and I experienced a staycation of sorts — we dined on two weeks of gourmet meals without leaving our home. Although it gave my husband-caregiver a much-needed ... Read more

June 25, 2020June 26, 2020

An Old Dog Teaches Me New Tricks

ALS News Today Columns

I found a walking buddy, and he’s teaching me how to live with my husband’s ALS. When my gym closed, I turned to cross-country skiing every day. When the snow ... Read more

June 24, 2020June 24, 2020

Oh My God — I Have ALS

ALS News Today Columns, COVID-19 Columns

The lyrics to “God Shuffled His Feet,” a song by the Canadian band Crash Test Dummies, portray God as indifferent to our struggles. When he speaks of someone perhaps having ... Read more

June 23, 2020June 23, 2020

ALS Support Groups Are Going Online

ALS News Today Columns

Last week, I joined about 20 other ALS patients in attending an online meeting on Zoom. While the speaker scrolled through her slide program, I thought, “Wow, no parking lots! ... Read more

June 18, 2020June 18, 2020

Hanging Up the Keys and Other Tough Decisions

ALS News Today Columns

I thought my husband, Todd, should quit driving long before he was ready to hang up the keys. When ALS had weakened his left arm and right hand, he would ... Read more

June 17, 2020June 19, 2020

‘What’s Love Got to Do With It?’

ALS News Today Columns, COVID-19 Columns

“Without your love, I’d be nowhere at all. I’d be lost if not for you.” The inspiration for that Bob Dylan song is a mystery to the general public. However, ... Read more

June 11, 2020June 12, 2020

Caregivers Are Only Human

ALS News Today Columns

Ten years ago today, my husband, Todd, was diagnosed with ALS. I’m grateful that our kids have had their dad much longer than we thought they would. When Todd was ... Read more

June 10, 2020June 11, 2020

ALS, Before and After

ALS News Today Columns, COVID-19 Columns

Author T. H. White‘s collection of novels titled “The Once and Future King” depicts the legend of King Arthur. While the title suggests a symmetrical before and after, in reality, ... Read more

June 9, 2020June 10, 2020

Celebrating 3 Years of ‘Living Well with ALS’

ALS News Today Columns, COVID-19 Columns

This week, I’m celebrating my third anniversary of writing columns for ALS News Today. This special column expresses my gratitude for having the unique opportunity to share my thoughts and ... Read more

June 4, 2020June 4, 2020

Applying the Science of Happiness to Caregiving

ALS News Today Columns

I cried buckets in the months after my husband, Todd, was diagnosed with ALS. When I met with a counselor, I described my overwhelming sadness. “It is sad,” he agreed. ... Read more

June 3, 2020June 3, 2020

Houston, We Have a Problem

ALS News Today Columns, COVID-19 Columns

The hubbub percolating around the SpaceX launch last weekend reminded me of the role a committed and engaged support team plays in averting and staving off peril.  In any successful ... Read more

June 2, 2020June 2, 2020

How I Navigate My ‘ALS Time Zone’

ALS News Today Columns

During my past 10 years of living with ALS, I’ve had to adapt to a lot of new normals. One of the most important has been learning to navigate what ... Read more