On Sunday August 10th my hubby and I took the Ice Bucket Challenge on Root Sports Pittsburgh to raise awareness and funds for ALS. It was an honor to do so! Like so many we have friends that have been diagnosed with this disease and raising awareness and funds is close to our hearts. Pete Frates is the man that this challenge started for is Pete Frates, a former Boston College baseball player. Our family has a great relationship with that baseball program and many of their players and coaches, alumni and current.
Remember with this challenge there is also a donation. If you accept the challenge you donate $25 and if you decline $100. Along with the donation is bringing awareness. Talk about it. Read about it. Learn more about it. Keep this challenge going to bring more focus on the disease.
Let's STRIKE OUT ALS!!!!! Praying for all of the ALS patients, their families and friends and all the scientist and medical personnel working to bring an end to ALS.
Please take some time and look at the following two websites for more information.
Pete's website http://petefrates.com/
The following description is to help you understand the disease a little more. It was taken from ALS-TDI http://www.als.net/About-ALS-TDI/What-is-ALS/
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, Charcot's disease, and motor neuron disease (MND), attacks certain cells in the brain and spinal cord needed to keep our muscles moving. Early signs and symptoms of ALS include:
- muscle cramps and muscle twitching
- weakness in hands, legs, feet or ankles
- difficulty speaking or swallowing
The senses, including hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch, are not affected by ALS. In most cases, people with ALS do not experience difficulties in bowel, bladder or sexual function.
There is no single diagnostic test for ALS. However, experts in the disease, usually neurologists specializing in neuromuscular diseases, are very capable of diagnosing ALS. In some cases, they might order additional tests if the diagnosis is not clear. These include:
- electromyography and nerve conduction
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- genetic tests
- muscle biopsy
- spinal tap
- blood and urine tests
Most people with ALS live 2-5 years after their first signs of disease. About 10% of people with ALS survive at least 10 years. This variable rate of disease progression makes prognosis difficult to predict and therapies challenging to develop.
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