Recent content by Tom

I am currently in possession of a 1993 Dodge conversion van that I am looking to donate to someone who is in need of a vehicle but doesn't have 30K to spend on a newer one. There is a problem with the braking system, which is a primitive ABS system. Adaptive Driving told me that the problem...

Jaketheo, What I'd suggest would be a chapel or at least access to a reverend, preacher, or pastor. Most folks find God when they get a disease like this if they already didn't know Him. This would be an extreme source of comfort for PALS and caregivers alike. If you get this rolling, it would...

Cindy, Mom in law has a Bi-pap, but we think we'll need to re-adjust soon. She's been doing well for a while, but every now and then, she can't seem to catch her breath. Hopefully, she just needs a pressure adjustment. I hope yours is that simple. Take care. Tom

Jimercat, We also had no nearby family, and used Church, friends, etc. What really helped out was the ALS clinic lining up hospice for us. They started with an hour a day, which basically was giving Mom in law a bath, but was a tremendous help to my wife. They also have a social worker who'll...

JamieT, I had kin in Lafayette, so I spent a lot of time there as a kid. Got tickled by ITR's post of eating creepy crawly stuff. Wonder if she's ever had gumbo? And yes, no bullfrog of any size was safe from the 'gig'. I hope you're hanging in there. Do you follow LSU or the Saints? One last...

Hi Paula, In answer to your question, no, I don't think God views not getting a feeding tube as suicide. Having not been faced with such a decision, the only advice I could give would be to spend time in prayer on the matter, until you are completely at peace with whatever decision you come up...

Mike, Really enjoyed the frog story. I grew up in Louisiana, so I got to hear more frogs than I wanted to, even to the point of keeping me up at night. Now, I've found I really enjoy the sound of croaking frogs and cicadas when they crank up before a rainstorm, which lately, has been quite a...

Mariner, So sorry to hear about your boy. My Mom in law has ALS, and was with us for close to a year before we were able to get her in a nursing home. Landscape had some really good advice and covered quite a bit of what's coming, and soon. My two cents, from what I've dealt with. Prepare...

Purple1020 Sorry to hear about your husband. As far as the disability payments, here is what I know from what my Mom in law had to do. I'm assuming you're already on SS. There is normally a two year wait for disability, but with a diagnosis of ALS, that is an automatic qualifier. There are forms...

baby Wishingonwind, I've been reading all the posts to your questions and I must say that you have a difficult decision ahead of your family. Here's my two cents: I have a 13 year old son, and my wife and I had great difficulty getting him here. After several surgeries on my wife and no luck...

My mom has the same problem with having a bowel movement, she does not have the strength to help herself push at all. At the current time she is taking Lactalose every morning. If she dosn't have a bowel movement, then we give her a suppository every other day. After she does have one she is...

Nursing homes Jaketheo, In response to your question about nursing homes and ALS patients in them, based on my experience in Texas, Houston area, there weren't many. We finally got my Mom in law in one after checking quite a few of them. Grandpal is quite correct; some are bad, so do your...

Jacquelyn, My wife was diagnosed with MS about 4 years ago, but Copaxone has kept it in check except for one flare up. My mother in law was diagnosed with ALS about a year and a half ago. You're the first person I've seen that has these two diseases in their immediate family, and I've wondered...

Hello all, My name is Tom and my mother in law has ALS, diagnosis about 2 years ago. She is currently in a nursing home. Although she is almost bedridden, we got her a powered wheelchair that she zips around in, a Quantum 600. Herein lies my question to anyone who might be able to answer it. I...