If you go to www.globeandmail.com and scroll down to ALS Coincidence or Connection there is an article about Firefighters and ALS and a slideshow featuring Lee and I talking about living with ALS. It is in one of Canada's largest National papers so the awareness is great. AL.

Great slide show. It showed your body atrophying and yet your mind still sharp and clear. Good work and great voice. I hope you've been putting your voice into a voice bank. I agree with the breathing appartatuses

I used to go dancing through the DDT mosquito smoke when the trucks would drive through where we lived in the country. From 5-11....

Thank you to you and your wife for sharing this very intimite part of your lives Al. Whew!

Great slide show....well done. Anne

Who is that handsome guy in the wheelchair? Looks a lot like the same guy that tears around in his lawnmower...Cindy

Al,

That was really a great, in-depth article! Slide show was terrific. Hope it raises awareness in your neck of the woods.

Getting up and around this morning, the first thing I did was think about all the heros on this forum. The caregivers and the men and women with MND's. I know I've said this before and I mean this from the depths of my heart. I am honored to be a part of this forum of heros. Again, thank you Al and your wife for sharing your lives with us.

I smiled when I read Cindy's post. :)

Your little grand daughter sure has your genes in her. She looked so content and happy to be with you. Simple joys and yet so profound....

Hi Al,
Very interesting article, and I loved your interview. Thanks for doing it - as you may remember, my husband was a firefighter for 25 years, and I believe it has contributed - if not caused - his disease. Interesting note - I was told that currently in Alberta, there are 5 firefighters diagnosed with ALS.
Beaner

Hi Beaner. I do recall you teling me that. As the article mentions there has been no tracking done. Did your husband put in a workers compensation claim? It still can be done and I urge anyone that knows a firefighter to tell them to tell their co workers about it as well. Not every case gets reported to anyone.
AL.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070720.wals0721/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/home
The link for the article may have changed.

Al what a great interview, our son is a volunteer firefighter, it makes me want to tell him quit, but like his dad, he is community committed.

You and your wife opened many doors and thoughts that I hope non ALS people will get some education from your interview.

Way to go AL and Mrs. AL

Cool article and slideshow Al! Hearing your voice was like hearing the voice of an old friend. It was also nice to meet Lee. Thanks for getting the word out. :-D

Mike

I agree with you Mike.

Al, you are amazing...thank you again and again and again for all you do. And, amen to what everyone else said about your voice -- you have a great smile, too! Sharon

Wow Al, what a great story and slide show. It was so in-depth that it definitely will gain any readers attention and get the word out. This is a huge step. I hope it gives you great joy getting this information out to the public.

And, it was certainly wonderful to see and hear you and Lee. Your grandchild has an uncanny resemblance to you.....good thing your nice looking!!! ~Leslie

AL it was nice to see your face after reading your post Your wife Lee loves you very much and it very obvious in the video. I am glad you are letting the public see a face to this disease, Thank you and God bless you and your family Pat

AL,
Although ALS has the physical journey that it takes. You appear to be a strong man and have that inner strength that is needed. You are wonderful!! I have passed this Article and Video Clip on to my Family and others!

Another voice with a message that is heard. You are Amazing!!!

Lorie

Al,
That was a good video and glad to meet you.
I noted your hands and was wondering, when it started to bother you and how? My mom complains of her thumbs and that her hands are getting very weak.
I saw your forks looked bent also. That is something you did or bought?
Great narration.
Kewanee

Hi Kewanee and all the others. First thank you for your kind thoughts. When I first was contacted about it I never realized that it was going in the National paper. I have gotten calls from both sides of the country. It's not so much about firefighting but ALS and awareness and helping people. One of the calls was from a gentleman that had lost the use of some his fingers from frostbite when he had an accident and was stranded for hours in -21 degree weather. He was interested in my software programs that I use for typing. I felt so good that I was able to help someone who lives in a remote part of Canada with a problem.
As for the silverware Lee got some dollar store items and my brother experimented with them in a vice until they were the right angle for my hand with the brace on. Ours work great and the store bought ones are about $10 or $15 at the handicapped store so for the price of 1 we got lots and we have found that they need adjusting once in a while due to more atrophy but for a dollar that's not a problem.
AL.

Wow! What an amazing interview and slide show Al. Thank you so very much for being brave enough to put yourself out there and do this.

Hi Al, What a great article and video. You sound great, your voice is strong and still looking healthy!!!!Finally there is more awareness. Did you get the article from our papers here Jack made front page. We had so much response to the newspaper articles too. You are the BEST!!! Beebe

True story- I read that story when it first went to press (I'm a Canadian too and I read the globe daily)

If you go to www.globeandmail.com and scroll down to ALS Coincidence or Connection there is an article about Firefighters and ALS and a slideshow featuring Lee and I talking about living with ALS. It is in one of Canada's largest National papers so the awareness is great. AL.


Where did this video go, I cannot find it anymore?

Go to the link www.globeandmail.com then type in ALS and firefighting and click on the smoke fire and Lou Gehrigs disease link and the slideshow link is about half way down the page on the left.
AL.

Here's a nice newspaper article:
< http://www.newsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071003/NEWS/71003039>

Hello Al. I am new to this site and just saw the footage on globemail.com. I want to thank you for your dedication as a FF. My grandfather, father are both retired FF from Baltimore City in Maryland USA and my brother is FF in a local county. I am visiting this site b/c my husband may have a MND. We are still waiting for dx but have been dealing with a great loss in his lower mobility for over 2 yrs now. I am very happy to find this forum as a means of support and am thankful for people like you. God Bless.

Glad to have you aboard J but sorry about your husband. Hope we can help in some way.
AL.

Great article & video Al. Thanks for sharing. Sorry I'm a little behind on the forums I try to read alittle every chance I get. My dad wasn't a firefighter, he was in the service they say there seems to be a link to vets also. Reading the article makes you wonder though. Could he have inhaled some chemical when his house (trailor) caught fire and he kept going back in over and over to get things out, until he was choaking on the smoke. :confused:

Hi Grace. Thanks. From what I understand the military is starting to realise there may be a connection to ALS and service in certain areas. Your dad should check the Vets Administration.
AL.

They were looking into some studies but, he passed away to fast, in aug. only 6 months after dx. He left his remains to ALS research. We haven't heard anything about his autopsy. I'm sorry to sound so gloomy, but I'm not sure if my children, grandchildren or I could get it. I've heard some types run in families also. He had a cousin who had it soooo.... of corse I'm jumping to conclusions. I just wish there were more research & research dollars looking into it. Take care, God bless, and thanks for the reply.

Hi Grace. I am so sorry to hear about your dad. I thought he was still with you but I guess in some ways he still is. More people do need to donate their bodies or at least some parts to research. My clinic and the U of Toronto are trying to get a small brain tissue and spinal cord sample from ALS patients. They have 20 out of 500 patients signed up. Money is needed for research but they also need something to do research on. They need the cooperation of the patients and families. It isn't just about the money.
AL

Al,

I have been reading your posts for the past 4 years, you are truely an amazing person! You were a fireman! you have the hero gene in you!

I checked into donating my organs for ALS research and was told the expense of removing the organs, preparing them properly, and transporting them to a research facility would have to be paid for by my family. I was told the cost could run as high as $20,000.

There is no way my family could afford this. There is no ALS research facility near us, so a local Doctor would have to do the procedure according the exact guidelines set up by each lab or else the organs would be of no use to them.

Hey, if they want my brain , spinal cord, whatever; the least they could do is pay for the procedure and not saddle my family with the cost.:confused:

How do you feel about this?

God Bless
Capt AL

My Neuro has asked for a limited autopsy. They will pick me up so that no more than 12 hours passes between death and harvesting of a small piece of brain and spinal cord tissue. They will return my body to wherever the family requests at their expense. Sunnybrook Hospital and the University of Toronto are involved in research.
They need more samples though. They are willing to wait for mine. I'm not done with them yet.
AL.

My Neuro has asked for a limited autopsy. They will pick me up so that no more than 12 hours passes between death and harvesting of a small piece of brain and spinal cord tissue. They will return my body to wherever the family requests at their expense. Sunnybrook Hospital and the University of Toronto are involved in research.
They need more samples though. They are willing to wait for mine. I'm not done with them yet.
AL.

This is exactly what was done. Only it was the University of Pitts & It was (I think) paid for by Center for ALS Research. He was taken from Va hospital WV to Pitts Univ and then back to WV. :( I miss him terribly. It all happened so fast. I was still in denial that it was really ALS. I'm just now starting to think of questions I wish I could have, would have asked. Blessings to all

Well Grace you can still ask questions here. You may find it therapeutic.
AL.

That was a good article. A great slideshow. Thanks for all the work you do on this form you are awesome! :-D

Great article AL and who was that handsome guy in the wheelchair? I know it can't be you. :-D
Makes me wonder about the 8 years I was a firefighter in Pensacola, Florida and all the fires we went into without the air packs on. My best fireman friend is now retired with 30% lung capacity. He and I went into many of the same fires, involving chemical plants and who knows what we breathed?

I think you are right on the money with the association of the breathing ???? and the link to ALS.

Again you did a great job. You are a credit to all your fellow firemen and to all of us who rely on you so much for guidance, encouragement, and even sometimes a little slap on the wrist, if we need it, on this great forum. Keep up the good work my friend.

I wish I had an award icon I could give you. This is about the only one in my collection that comes close. You are like the Mighty Eagle soaring over us and giving us protection and direction.
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t172/ShakeyMarble/AL-avatar-010.gif

God Bless
Capt AL

Thanks buddy.
AL.

Al...your slideshow was wonderful! And, I loved to hear your voice. Thank you for sharing.

If you go to www.globeandmail.com (http://www.globeandmail.com) and scroll down to ALS Coincidence or Connection there is an article about Firefighters and ALS and a slideshow featuring Lee and I talking about living with ALS. It is in one of Canada's largest National papers so the awareness is great. AL.


Excellent article Al. Looking for the slide show.. But excellent article in the firefighters.. Let me ask you a question.. is there a firefighter we could get to be a spokes person for ALS in this province?
Mike

If you found the article, the slideshow link is next to a small red maple leaf about half way down the page on the left. Other than me I haven't seen anyone interested in opening up about ALS in the firefighting community. What did you have in mind?
AL.

GrampAl
I read the article and watched your film God Bless you for always sharing........
I hope you enjoy this holiday season (and your grandbaby is as cute as a button) with your family

Donna
Caretaker of Ben
New Jersey

I would like to see your hand slide show, Al, but I am told "you do not have access" to this page, then says the reason could be if I am trying to edit someone else's post, and list s some other possibilities. Honest, I just wanted to see the pictures. Maybe it's my machine? Any suggestions.

Over the months since last May when I was diagnosed with ALS, I have appreciated Al's posts, as well as others. coolr

hi al
ive just seen your story and slide show,its great to see you in person. you are a true inspiration in what you do on here and your possative attitude to life. even though i have pls for 8yrs, you pals are an inspiration to me and i like to look in and see how you all are.if anyone else wants to look i had to type "als connection" in search.
hope you are with us for many more years
take care,god bless
caroline

Sorry coolr. Just saw your post today. David was triying to fix that link on the weekend. Can you let me know if it works. Also thanks Caroline.
AL.

Hi Al,
I was just able the video clip on globeandmail.com. The photography is amazing, just as you are and your story. Thank you for the insight.
Warmest,
gemma

hi all,

i dont understand why I coudnt see the photos due to my membership status. Strange.

My sis in law has ALS, she just had a feeding tube inserted. She lives 2,000 miles away, I miss her. I wanted to view the photos so that I would have a better idea what she is going thru.

Hang in there, Flame. Full status will kick in soon. We had to install extra security software and not viewing photos comes with the deal, it seems. The extra security is a precaution to avoid the scammer's software that was flooding our site with all sorts of nasty stuff.

So you and other new members, unfortunately, are caught in this "software war." Our site will recognize you as an actual person with legimitate intentions once you visit us a few times, poke around reading past threads, post a bit more about your SIL and in general act like the human being you are (as opposed to a "bot.")

Meanwhile, feel free to ask anything. Our members are very experienced with all aspects of living with and caring for folks with MND. And they are a very supportive bunch! Welcome to the site! Cindy

If you use the link in post #8 on page one it will take you to the article where the link is down the page on the left by the red maple leaf. Anyone should be able to see it.
AL.

Hang in there, Flame. Full status will kick in soon. We had to install extra security software and not viewing photos comes with the deal, it seems. The extra security is a precaution to avoid the scammer's software that was flooding our site with all sorts of nasty stuff.

So you and other new members, unfortunately, are caught in this "software war." Our site will recognize you as an actual person with legimitate intentions once you visit us a few times, poke around reading past threads, post a bit more about your SIL and in general act like the human being you are (as opposed to a "bot.")

Meanwhile, feel free to ask anything. Our members are very experienced with all aspects of living with and caring for folks with MND. And they are a very supportive bunch! Welcome to the site! Cindy
Thanks Cindy. I appreciate the heads up on my status!

Hello All and welcome a blast from the past and for thos of you considering organ donation (from a ways back)
My wife lost her battle with ALS in May of 2001 and we approached the neurologist about organ donation. When the time came, she was taken to London (Ontario) (where the neropathologist was in this part of the world) and part of the brain and spinal column were taken for research. It was something that she wanted to give back. Much of the rest of her had deteriorated to the point where a general harvest wasn't practical even though she was only 50.
Al... glad you're still around and I hopeenjoyinig this weather...looking forward to getting to the Jays game this year!

t.