Each year approximately 5,000 men and women are diagnosed just in the US. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is sometimes called Lou Gehrig's disease for the famous baseball player who died from ALS years ago.
The disease, one of the Motor Neuron Diseases, normally affects men and women over fifty. Now, though, more and more young people are dying from ALS. Children are losing their fathers. Mothers are losing their daughters. The disease has no confirmed cause--and no cure.
Most that develop ALS, without the use of a ventilator, will die within 2-5 years. Those that choose to use life support can live for years.
Basically, ALS paralyzes the voluntary muscles of the body. This means that the person loses the ability to use each and every voluntary muscle--but it also affects those muscles necessary for breathing.
They will eventually lose the ability to speak when the tongue and throat become involved. All will use a wheelchair when their legs are lost.
Many with ALS still have fulfilling lives even with this debilitating disease. I know people with ALS that post on forums using a mouse with a laser dot on their glasses to type. Others that type with their feet or with one finger. Still others use their computer or other device to 'speak' for them as Hawking does.
Ninety percent of ALS is sporadic. This means it simply comes from no determined cause. The other ten percent is genetic. Entire families wiped out by this disease.
Today, one of the most famous people with ALS is scientist Stephen Hawking. Hawking has suffered from ALS for nearly fifty years. Most know that Hawking is a noted physicist, but some don't know that he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom--the highest award that can be issued to a civilian in the US, in 2009.
Football player Steve Gleason also has ALS. Actor David Niven died from ALS.
Most people have heard of some of the famous people with ALS.
The sadly lacking thing with ALS is funding for those afflicted. There are all kinds of organizations that help with things like medical equipment. Medicare helps with home supplies.
ALS Guardian Angels is one of the few organizations that helps support those with ALS on a more personal level. Just last year, through the work of founder Stuart Millheiser, one person with ALS was given a van for use with his wheelchair.
For quite a while, Millheiser helped the people from his own pocket. Stu doesn't have ALS--he just felt a dire need for support for those people afflicted.
The purpose of this site is to promote ALS Awareness and to help get funds for ALS Guardian Angels. It's more than one or two people alone can do.
There are all kinds of activities sponsored to help support finding a cure for ALS. Those are wonderful organizations.
Guardian Angels, though, seeks to help those inflicted with this disease in more substantial real ways. They have done things like paid utility bills. Provided respite care for spouses that act as caregivers to get a few hours away from home.
For another family, ALS Guardian Angels provided Christmas in October. These are just a few of the people Stu's organization has helped.
My goal is to gather a group of authors that want to help support those with ALS via support of the ALS Guardian Angels.
Are you an author? Would you consider donating a days sales per week? Perhaps a days sales per month?
This site is open to fundraising suggestions. If you're going to shop on Amazon, please consider using the link at the top of the page. Any purchase you make will benefit people living with ALS --and won't cost you a dime. Amazon pays us for hosting their link.
Please check back often. Remember, it's not just rich people and famous people inflicted with this horrible disease.
