Update on Rick

Hello Friends, Rick has recently had good news about his injured leg. The bone surgery was a success, and after nine months of hopping on one foot, he is now walking without pain or assistance. The bad news is the ALS is still progressing as he is losing strength and feeling in his feet and other leg. He was sceduled to have a spinal tap and muscle biopsy this week, but that was ordered by a new neurologist we met, and our present N canceled it. He agrees that Rick shouldn't lose any portion of a good muscle and to take the risks of a spinal since we know he has 'something neuron diseasewise' and don't need to name it. We willnot be going back for six months unless we need help. Rick doesn't want to be part of a study anyway, so isn'tlooking for medications on trial. So, because we don't know what next year will bring, we plan to take a train trip out to the western states to visit our two brothers out there. We are looking forward to the trip, and expect to make the most of whatever time we have for him to be able to walk. He still hasn't gotten his BIpap machine, but has the CPap not working very well. We were told he needed to progress to the B but the doctors don't agree. We are working on that issue. Rick is beginning to get twitches in his toes and has one finger that he cannot use. Please put in your 'two cents' if you think this is ALS rather than Huntingtons disease or some other. Thanks for reading, and we look forward to reading your posts. We think of you all and pray for you regularly. Bless you. Marjorie