This disease can progress slow or fast or even stop at a certain point. I love to hear of those who are living well with this disease, and it gives us hope to hear of 10, even 20 years. But i also have such love and admiration for thoses who have the full blown ALS but live theri lives so fully they inspire me to want to live well WITH this disease no matter what stage of it. We are wired for hope by our Creator, so i like to shoot for the highest hope presented to me in the moment, and when that is no longer possible, I shoot for the next highest possible hope available to me. This keeps me from sinking into living a diagnosis, rather than living my life. Right now I am making walking memories at the beach and in the mountains, so if I can no longer walk, I will be able to savor the meorey that God has given me as such a great gift. Then rather than be bitter over a loss, I can be full of gratitude for what i have been given and loss. How many people are not grateful for being able to do normal things like walk or talk or eat, or even breath? ALS can shake us out of that forgrantedness right into thankfulness and living fully the life we now have.