06-23-13
Does this ever get any easier?
My Aunt Mia was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also referred to as ALS, or also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. This disease is not curable. This disease is not pretty. For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, let me paint you a picture. Imagine someone you know slowly losing all muscle function. They are no longer able to walk, stand by themselves, hold anything, etc. They are no longer able to swallow, talk, or breathe on their own. All they can do is sit there and stare at you. But you want to know the best part? Their mental abilities are untouched. They have full control over their thoughts and feelings. Isn’t that great?
I personally think that that is some kind of personal hell that I hope I never have to witness or go through again. To ensure that, I participate in the Walk to Defeat ALS in Hershey, Pennsylvania every June. This event is sponsored by The ALS Association. It raises money to advance global research. Another event that raised money for research was the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, where people dumped freezing cold water over themselves. With all these donations and support, the FDA has recently just approved a new treatment for the first time in twenty-two years. This drug can slow the physical decline of body function. Obviously, this is not a cure, but it certainly is steps in the right direction.
As a psychology major, I am very interested in specializing in neurological disorders. I would love to work on research for this horrible, horrible disease one day soon. Losing my aunt to this really opened my eyes to the wonders of the human body. The way the brain works and communicates with everything else within us is such a particular science. When something goes wrong, it can and will be extremely detrimental. But, if I learned anything from her battle, it is to never give up and “always live strong.”
