tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102788822024-03-13T08:52:01.480-04:00ALS Blog SpotALS is responsible for nearly 6000 deaths annually, and not much has changed in 70 years.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-3387713180007171352012-12-14T08:03:00.000-05:002014-10-10T15:45:33.410-04:00Knockin' On Heaven's Door<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Having grown up with rock legend Bob Dylan, Rob Borsellino always wanted to shake the hand of his favorite artist. With the help of a friend those hands finally met out west near a corn field.<br />
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On April 21, 2006, legendary musicians Bob Dylan and Merle Haggard traveled to Des Moines, Iowa to perform a concert in Borsellino's honor, raising over $100,000 for the ALS Association.<br />
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Rob received the Voice of Courage Award accepted by Sen. Tom Harkin at ALSA’s Celebration of Excellence Reception and Awards Presentation in Washington, D.C.<br />
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Columnist for Des Moines Registry, Rob testified before the Senate Subcommittee 2005.<br />
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The ALS community has many Legends - Rob Borsellino was just that.<br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-81445075544481334952012-12-09T11:07:00.000-05:002012-12-09T11:07:11.711-05:00Complementary and Alternative Medicine Facts (CAM)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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More than 70% to 90% of physicians consider CAM therapies, such as diet and exercise, behavioral medicine, counseling and psychotherapy, and hypnotherapy, to be legitimate medical practices. </div>
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Approximately 80% of medical students and 70% of family physicians are interested in receiving training in multiple areas of CAM therapies. </div>
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In any given year, 69% of Americans use at least one type of CAM therapy. </div>
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Due to high market demand, at least 67% of health insurers and HMOs, such as Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente, Mutual of Omaha, Prudential, California Pacific, Catholic HealthCare West, HealthNet, and Oxford Health Plans, cover CAM therapies. </div>
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Chiropractic, acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal therapies, and mind-body techniques, among other CAM therapies, are offered at 64% of U.S. medical schools. </div>
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Approximately 57% of physicians have referred patients to CAM professionals. </div>
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It has been shown that 56% of Americans believe their health plans should cover CAM therapies. </div>
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Estimates place the size and value of the CAM market at $24 billion, a figure projected to increase at a rate of 15% per year. </div>
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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) currently invests about $40 million per year in CAM-related research. </div>
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Based on the popularity and growth of CAM therapies in the U.S., the American Medical Association (AMA) ranked alternative medicine among the top 3 subjects (out of 86) for mainstream medical journals to address in the coming years.11 In response, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), a highly renowned medical journal, identified alternative medicine as the 7th (out of 73) most important topic for future publication. </div>
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Chiropractors are licensed in all 50 states, and 12 states require that health plans include chiropractic benefits. </div>
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There are nearly 40,000 doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) throughout the country. </div>
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Acupuncturists are licensed in 34 states. </div>
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There are currently 21 schools in the U.S. that offer certification in homeopathic medicine. </div>
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Naturopathic professionals are licensed in 12 states. </div>
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<a href="http://www.medaus.com/">MedausPharmacy</a></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-27443631823647148302012-12-02T10:11:00.000-05:002012-12-02T10:11:02.353-05:00Dr. Gabor Maté: “When the Body Says No: Understanding the Stress-Disease Connection”<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Vancouver-based Dr. Gabor Maté argues that too many doctors seem to have forgotten what was once a commonplace assumption—that emotions are deeply implicated in both the development of illness and in the restoration of health. Based on medical studies and his own experience with chronically ill patients at the Palliative Care Unit at Vancouver Hospital, where he was the medical coordinator for seven years, Dr. Gabor Maté makes the case that there are important links between the mind and the immune system. He found that stress and individual emotional makeup play critical roles in an array of diseases.<br />
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It’s also typical for people that develop ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. I talk about the example of Lou Gehrig, if I may tell you about that. Lou Gehrig was this great baseball player, a teammate of Babe Ruth’s on the New York Yankees. And he set a record for consecutive games played that stood for nearly sixty years. Now, Gehrig wasn’t just a great athlete. He was also dutiful. He—it’s not that he was never hurt. At one point, his hands were x-rayed. It turns out his fingers had been fractured seventeen separate times. And his teammates described him as grimacing like a mad monkey in agony when he fielded the ball. But he never took himself out of a game, because he was too dutiful to his own self-image and also to the fans and to the owners. Now, that sense of responsibility, and not looking after yourself, is totally typical of everybody who develops ALS. And it goes back to their childhoods, because, just like with the woman with rheumatoid arthritis, she was a failure the moment she was born, because her mother conceived her to keep the marriage together with the father. The marriage broke up, and she never had the feeling that she was accepted and liked for who she was, therefore she had to become this dutiful caregiver. Lou Gehrig’s father was an alcoholic, and Gehrig learned very early in life that he had to take care of others, as the children of alcoholics often do. And that then became his pattern until he could no longer drag himself around the baseball diamond because of the ALS, which in North America, of course, is known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.<br />
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<a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2010/2/15/dr_gabor_mat_when_the_body">Democracy Now Feb. 15, 2010</a></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-43200270045257626402012-12-01T12:10:00.001-05:002012-12-01T12:10:30.346-05:00Faces of ALS<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QqlAs6lZepI?fs=1" width="459"></iframe>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-51183211598949550202011-02-03T08:32:00.000-05:002012-07-26T11:34:47.820-04:00ReWire Your Brain For Love | Marsha Lucas, PhD<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Mindfulness meditation can change your brain in ways that support healthier, more successful relationships. But how can you meditate when your brain is so busy? Marsha Lucas, PhD is a psychologist / neuropsychologist who explains why the busier your brain is, the more opportunities you have to do the "reps" in meditation that re-wire your brain.<br />
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</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-80817404155982225822011-01-17T13:29:00.000-05:002012-12-02T08:54:07.085-05:00What is Spirulina?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What is Spirulina? <br />
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Spirulina plantensis is a food supplement form of a one-celled, spiral-shaped microscopic blue-green algae that is exceedingly adaptable to its surroundings and naturally occurs in a wide variety of environments including fresh water, tropical springs, and saltpans. It is not a sea plant, but does grow in fresh water bodies that contain a higher than usual amount of salt. Because of its natural ability to grow in warm environments that other organisms cannot survive in, spirulina is actually one of the most sterile foods on earth. It is also known to be one of the earliest forms of life and has been on the planet for more than 3.6 billion years. Spirulina is both a complete food and a whole food supplement. Long before it became known as a “probiotic” or “super food” by the health food industry, spirulina has been consumed by humans worldwide for centuries because of its rich nutrient range and ability to sustain life even without need for other foods. Today, spirulina farming has become a part of the new era of ecological agriculture and is recognized as a powerful food source.<br />
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Spirulina also contains extensive levels of trace elements and essential minerals. In its natural aquatic environment, minerals that have been deposited from ancient soils become chelated with their amino acids and can thus be more easily assimilated by the body. Aside from being a vegetarian source of vitamin B12, other major nutritional components of spirulina that are of significant value to human health are Essential Fatty Oils (rich in gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which is effective against viral infections and promotes cardiovascular health), Phycocyanin (stimulates the immune system by making iron more bio-available), Chlorophyll (cleanses and detoxifies the body and helps to remove heavy metals from the system), Beta-carotene (10 times greater than carrots), and antioxidants (for complete immune support).<br />
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For more than 30 years spirulina (Spirulina platensis) has been the first choice for supplementing a vegetarian diet. This special blue-green algae is a good source of numerous vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and essential fatty acids which are very difficult to reach and maintain at sufficient concentrations with a vegetarian diet. Most notable is the high quality protein, which contains all nine essential amino acids. Although this simple organism has been around for millions of years, it was only fairly recently when it has earned recognition as the superfood of the future because of its remarkable nutritional content. Spirulina, in comparison with either beef or soybeans, is a much better source of protein. It is also among the rare non-animal sources of vitamin B12, and contains twice the amount of B12 found in beef liver, which makes it an excellent addition to the vegetarian diet.<br />
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In the United States, Spirulina is sold as a dietary supplement, and dietary supplements are regulated as foods, not drugs. Therefore, premarket evaluation and approval by the Food and Drug Administration are not required unless claims are made for specific disease prevention or treatment.<br />
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Health Benefits of Spirulina<br />
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Spirulina is best known for its ability to boost the immune system, and research indicates it may even help both treat and prevent cancer. Spirulina stimulates the natural killer (NK) cells that fight illness and attack and kill cancerous cells. In one study performed in India, participants taking spirulina saw a complete remission of mouth cancer. Spirulina is sometimes referred to as the world’s richest natural whole food source because of its phenomenal nutritional profile. It is also referred to as a “green food” or “whole food” because not only does it contain a huge array of trace minerals, carbohydrates, enzymes , amino acids and essential fatty acids, greater than 60% of spirulina is a highly digestible and biologically complete plant protein, providing higher amounts of protein than either red meat or soy.<br />
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Owing to the fact that Spirulina is rich in highly valuable proteins, amino acids, vitamins, beta-carotene and other pigments, mineral substances, fatty acids and polysaccharides, spirulina has been found beneficial for use as a bioactive additive. Spirulina strengthens the immune system by improving the synthesis of antibodies and cytokines thus improving resistance of humans, mammals, chickens and fish to infections. Spirulina sulfolipids have proved to be effective against HIV. Preparations obtained from Spirulina biomass have also been found active against herpes virus, cytomegalovirus, influenza virus, etc. Spirulina preparations are regarded as functional products contributing to the preservation of the resident intestinal microflora, especially lactic acid bacilli and bifidobacteria.<br />
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Spirulina has shown the ability to enhance immune function, and it also promotes hematopoiesis (formation and development of red blood cells) due to the high levels of iron present in this food supplement. Spirulina may protect against allergic reactions by blocking the release of histamines. By blocking histamine release, spirulina may prevent or lessen histamine’s effects, which include blood vessel expansion, muscle contraction, and stomach acid production. Spirulina contains beta carotene, zeaxanthin and phycocyanin which have powerful antioxidant activity. Antioxidants are thought to protect body cells from damage caused by a chemical process called oxidation. Both the antioxidant and immune-enhancing effects of spirulina may give it some anticancer properties.<br />
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Additionally Spirulina increases production of antibodies, cytokines (infection fighting proteins), and other cells that improve immunity and help ward off infection and chronic illnesses such as cancer. In those with chronic hepatitis Spirulina may help protect against liver damage and cirrhosis (liver failure). Gamma linolenic acid (GLA) in spirulina is anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative. It is potentially useful for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis and diabetic neuropathy. It may also play a role in lowering plasma triglycerides and increasing HDL cholesterol, thus preventing cardiovascular diseases.<br />
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Purity and Concentration of Spirulina<br />
Our Spirulina Powder is stored in dark, airtight vacuum sealed bags, and is very fresh. As a Protein source, Spirulina contains all eight essential amino acids. This is an important feature for two primary reasons: 1) because the body requires that all protein factors be present simultaneously to synthesize the body’s repair and maintenance; and 2) because spirulina’s primitive cellular structure and lack of hard cellular walls allows for rapid formation and synthesis of proteins, thus allowing for higher and more effective digestability of protein. Our Spirulina powder has more than 60% protein, Alanine (8%), Arginine (7.4%), Aspartic Acid (10.2%), Cysteine (0.9%), Glutamic Acid (15.5%), Glycine (5.0%), Histidine (1.6%), Isoleucine (5.3%), Leucine (9.1%), Lysine (5.2%), Methionine (2.0%), Phenylalanine (4.5%), Proline (4.1%), Serine (5.0%), Threonine (5.0%), Tryptophan (1.4%), Tyrosine (4.2%) and Valine (6.0%). Having already been naturally pre-digested by the algae in its natural environment, spirulina is a highly digestible food and complete protein source.<br />
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People who are vegetarians or who have a poor diet or one loaded with processed food should definitely consider taking this supplement-it is a safe, nontoxic, and very efficient way to meet your total nutritional needs. In addition, many people reported that adding spirulina to their diet gave them extra energy and in some cases eliminated feelings of fatigue. There have been no toxic effects associated with the consumption of spirulina.<br />
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Potential Side Effects of Spirulina<br />
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Spirulina is not an essential nutrient and no symptoms of deficiency exist. Spirulina is considered generally safe. Possible side effects include headache, muscle pain, flushing and sweating. People with allergies to spirulina should avoid products containing spirulina. No interactions of spirulina with foods, medications, or herbs are documented. Spirulina grown in water contaminated with heavy metals can concentrate these toxins. Therefore, it is important to purchase products from qualified manufacturers and suppliers.<br />
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Recommended Dosage of Spirulina<br />
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We suggest you take between 25 and 100 grams per day of Spirulina powder for an average sized adult. Mix 10 grams, or approximately one rounded tablespoon in 8 to 12 ounces juice or water. For maximum results, take the juice/water three times a day. You can see the full bulk density/volumetric conversion chart for Spirulina here. Taking 1/2 level tablespoon will supply a total dose of about 4.5 grams. For weight loss, a dose of 200 mg has been taken three times daily by mouth just before meals. It can also be mixed into a smoothie of your choice if you prefer.<br />
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Retail dosages of Spirulina powder are commonly between 3 and 10 grams daily, this is partly due to retailers trying to keep the perceived monthly costs of consumption down. However, spirulina in the bulk powder form is much less expensive, and literally as a complete food, you can eat as much of it as you like. Some pre-modern cultures in South America & Africa probably consumed more then 250 grams per day (nearly 50% of their entire diet) of Spirulina Powder in the form of sundried cakes.<br />
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The information at Purebulk.com is NOT a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not use any dietary supplement as a replacement for conventional care, or as a reason to postpone seeing a doctor about a medical problem. Tell all your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.<br />
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Bioavailability, Mixing and Solubility of Spirulina<br />
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Spirulina powder has a dark bluish green appearance and has a slight marine smell and taste. Spirulina is slightly soluble in normal water. But its solubility characteristics show maximum solubility in the pH range of 8 to 10 in water and pH 6.0 ± 0.5 in 0.5 M sodium chloride. The most common and accurate way of measuring the Spirulina powder is by tablespoons (tbsps.) and teaspoons (tsps.). Spirulina is best in water or juice. Any recipe for a smoothie works well with Spirulina. It does not have a very bad taste and can be easily covered up in juice or smoothies. It is possible to sprinkle food or use as a seasoning to soups, dressings, dips, sauces and casseroles. When adding to liquids though, it best to blend the Spirulina powder in a small amount of water before adding to recipes.<br />
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Proprietary Formulas using Spirulina<br />
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EARTHRISE Chlorella, EARTHRISE Spirulina, FUTUREBIOTICS Vital Green, JARROW Yaeyama Chlorella, NATROL China Chlorella, NATURE’S WAY Chlorella, NATURE’S WAY Spirulina, NOW Chlorella, NOW Green PhytoFoods, NOW Spirulina Powder, NUTREX HAWAII Spirulina Pacifica, NUTRICOLOGY KingChlorella, SOURCE NATURALS Yaeyama Chlorella, SUN CHLORELLA Pet Sun Chlorella.<br />
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References & Further Research<br />
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Spirulina and blood cholesterol: Hypocholesterolemic effect of spirulina in patients with hyperlipidemic nephrotic syndrome.<br />
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In nephrotic syndrome, large amounts of plasma proteins are lost in urine, causing a decrease in the plasma oncotic pressure. This leads to enhanced hepatic synthesis of albumin and other proteins, including lipoproteins, causing a secondary hyperlipidemia. In this study 23 patients (age 2 to 13 years) with nephrotic syndrome received either medication (group I) or medication plus 1 gram a day Spirulina. It can be concluded that spirulina capsules, rich in antioxidants, GLA, amino acids, and fatty acids, helped reduce the increased levels of lipids in patients with hyperlipidemic nephrotic syndrome.<br />
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Spirulina and exercise performance: Preventive effects of Spirulina platensis on skeletal muscle damage under exercise-induced oxidative stress.<br />
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The effects of spirulina supplementation on preventing skeletal muscle damage on untrained human beings were examined. Sixteen students volunteered to take Spirulina platensis in addition to their normal diet for 3-weeks. The results showed that plasma concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly decreased after supplementation with spirulina. The activity of blood superoxide dismutase (SOD) was significantly raised after supplementation with spirulina or soy protein. Both of the blood glutathione peroxidaes (GPx) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were significantly different between spirulina and soy protein supplementation. In addition, the lactate concentration was higher and the time to exhaustion was significantly extended in the spirulina trail. These results suggest that ingestion of Spirulina platensis showed preventive effect of the skeletal muscle damage and that probably led to postponement of the time of exhaustion during the all-out exercise.<br />
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Spirulina and allergic rhinitis: Effects of a Spirulina-based dietary supplement on cytokine production from allergic rhinitis patients.<br />
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We evaluated the impact of a Spirulina based dietary supplement (Earthrise Nutritionals, Inc., Irvine, CA) on patients with allergic rhinitis by assessing the production of cytokines [interleukin (IL)-4, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and IL-2] critical in regulating immunoglobulin E-mediated allergy. These results indicate that Spirulina can modulate the Th profile in patients with allergic rhinitis by suppressing the differentiation of Th2 cells mediated, in part, by inhibiting the production of IL-4. To our knowledge, this is the first human feeding study that demonstrates the protective effects of Spirulina towards allergic rhinitis.<br />
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Protective effect of Spirulina on lead induced deleterious changes in the lipid peroxidation and endogenous antioxidants in rats.<br />
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The present study aims to investigate the protective effect of Spirulina on lead-induced changes in the levels of lipid peroxidation and endogenous antioxidants in liver, lung, heart, kidney and brain of rats. Levels of elemental lead were also measured in the organs of rats in all experimental groups. In the liver, lung, heart and kidney of lead-exposed animals, there was a significant increase in the lipid peroxidation and a decrease in the levels of endogenous antioxidants. Although, Spirulina did not affect the deposition of lead in organs apart from the brain, simultaneous administration of Spirulina to lead exposed animals significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation and restored the levels of endogenous antioxidants to normal. Spirulina had a significant effect on scavenging free radicals, thereby protecting the organs from damage caused by the exposure to lead. Further more, Spirulina showed a significant decrease in the deposition of lead in the brain.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-11997936532434874162010-12-21T14:16:00.001-05:002012-05-01T12:40:12.472-04:00Sabrina Parker - Love Is Forever<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For most teenagers love means trips to the movies, stolen kisses behind the bleachers and the heartbreak of that first breakup. For Sabrina Parker and Matt Scozzari it means a whole lot more.<br />
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The two began dating after Matt, in his own words, got up the nerve to ask her out. Over the next three months things seemed perfect to them, but Matt noticed that Sabrina seemed ill. She was tired easily, she sometimes had trouble speaking, she was losing weight.<br />
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When he asked if she was ok she told him it was fine, the doctor was treating her.<br />
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What she did not tell him was that only a month after they started dating she had been diagnosed with ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease and the prognosis was not good.<br />
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Finally after her surprise sweet 16 party two of her friends, both in tears, broke the news to Matt.<br />
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He was obviously devastated but when Sabrina asked him if he was going to leave her because of the diagnosis he responded “I will never leave you, no matter what”. For both of them facing trials in life was not new.<br />
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Sabrina’s grandmother and mother both died from ALS. Matt had been diagnosed with a mild learning disability, had endured teasing from schoolmates due to speech problems and had watched his grandmother die from cancer. But both overcame these problems.<br />
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As their romance progresses the terminal nature of ALS was always in the back of their minds. Over time Sabrina grew weaker but Matt was always there, acting as her supporter, her helper and when speech became difficult her interpeter.<br />
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When the Make A Wish foundation arranged a trip to Orlando for the family Matt joined them. When Sabrina was unable to ride an attraction Matt stayed by her side. Despite her illness they attended prom together and were elected king and queen.<br />
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The only real burden hanging over them was the fact that they would nto spend their lives together. Matt would always start talking about ‘when we get married’ until his mom explained why that would be impossible.<br />
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But she had an alternative, a friendship ceremony which would allow them to experience a wedding like event and it would allow Matt to tell Sabrina it was ok to let go. As his mom explained patients often fight until they feel like loved ones will allow them to let go.<br />
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On November 20th, 2010 they and their families shared a ceremony that was in every sense of the word a true wedding.<br />
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Nine days later Matt got the call that he should come to the hospital as quickly as possible.<br />
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He spent the night holding *his wife’s* hand until she died in her sleep the next morning.<br />
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If there is a better example of true love I have yet to see it.<br />
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And if there is a better example of two amazing teenagers…<br />
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source : <a href="http://themoderatevoice.com/95704/love-is-forever/">http://themoderatevoice.com/95704/love-is-forever/</a></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-50133182317826176562010-12-14T13:13:00.001-05:002010-12-15T09:53:12.754-05:00WHERE ARE THE CURES<div><br />
</div><div><b>Educate Yourself</b></div><div><br />
</div><div>Of the billions of dollars spent on medical research each year, few if any patient treatments emerge. From the time a scientist has an idea for a relevant experiment, it could be as long as 40 years before a treatment is available. As unimaginable as this seems, it is true.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='400' height='320' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxBPhhzdo2HaQWKMkXSWW8YUzHFGEW9tYeOZKJoJsU6Hm1QA_qBSbNkD0rKB0a_ivP8hcl-mcSY-Uo' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div><a href="http://wherearethecures.org/#petition_name"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sign the Patient's Manifesto now!</span></a></div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-10726424680827412162010-08-24T09:12:00.000-04:002012-05-01T12:49:04.262-04:00Scientists Shift from Studying Disease to Studying Health<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.drnorthrup.com/news/news_article.php">by Dr. Christiane Northrup</a><br />
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As a Doctor, I’m often asked how to reverse a medical condition or disease state. Although I know the causes of many illnesses as well as what to do to relieve a person’s symptoms, the focus of my life’s work has been on prevention. This means adopting the habits and lifestyle you need to live a long, healthy life—and doing it as early in your life as possible. Most people believe that disease is inevitable and that they will die of something dreadful, like cancer, heart disease or Alzheimer’s disease. And most scientists study patients with disease to determine what contributed to the individual’s illness. So, I was thrilled to learn about Richard Davidson, Ph.D., and the work that’s being done at the <a href="http://www.investigatinghealthyminds.org/">Center for Investigating Healthy Minds</a> at the University of Wisconsin under his direction. Dr. Davidson established The Center “to scientifically determine how healthy qualities of mind develop and to investigate interventions to cultivate those qualities in children and adults.”<br />
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In May 2010, the Dalai Lama traveled to Wisconsin for the grand opening of the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin, where some of Dr. Davidson’s research will be conducted. Dr. Davidson had been inspired by his holiness the Dalai Lama many years ago when the Dalai Lama posed an interesting question of him. The Dalai Lama had noticed that our Western culture put a lot of emphasis on studying diseases of the mind, like anxiety and depression. The Dalai Lama asked Dr. Davidson what does our Western science say about a healthy mind, and what are the characteristics of a person with a healthy mind. Dr. Davidson didn’t have an answer.<br />
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Dr. Davidson began to determine which practices encourage compassion, happiness, and well-being. Of course meditation was on the top of the list, and many studies have already been conducted on Buddhist monks to understand the positive effects that meditation has on the brain and body. The Center for Investigating Healthy Minds continues to study a health mind as defined by the Dalai Lama: “The kind of mind which can create good health, and also which can maintain calmness, and also bring more sense of community. That mind is, I think, a healthy mind.”</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-89330610650837703312010-08-17T12:18:00.002-04:002010-08-17T12:26:30.166-04:00What If Lou Gehrig had More Than ALS<a href="http://ramblingmanofals.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/mate-1.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://ramblingmanofals.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/mate-1.png" /></a><br /><div>Dr. Gabor Maté has lived several lives in one. He's most decidedly a risk-taker: the bestselling author of a controversial book on attention-deficit disorder called Scattered Minds, Maté is a political activist known for his (even more controversial) views on the Middle East, and a physician/psychotherapist who gave up his family practice several years ago to work with HIV-positive heroin addicts on the Vancouver's downtown east side. Unflinching in the face of criticism, this is a man who will not keep silent about his multiple passions.<br /><br />In his latest book, <strong>When the Body Says No</strong>, he goes out on a medical limb with his passionately-argued thesis that certain types of chronic disease can be triggered by stress. And not the garden variety stress we usually think of (the job, the kids, the mortgage), but internal stress generated by the repression of powerful emotions, particularly anger.<br /><br />In his many years as a palliative care physician, Maté observed in his dying patients certain eerie similarities in personality. Many of them were cheerful and agreeable to a fault, never seemed angry, placed everyone else's needs above their own, and were harshly critical with themselves. Their personal boundaries seemed fragile and uncertain, as if they did not know where they left off and others began. In many cases, it was nearly impossible for them to say "no," to the point that their bodies had to say it for them.<br /><br />These personal observations matched up with certain discoveries in the relatively-new field of psychoneuroimmunology, the science studying the intricate interaction between psyche and soma. The mainstream medical idea of a "mind/body split" no longer made sense to Maté, so he set out to probe the mystery of what makes us sick, and how we can guard our health through a better understanding of boundaries, emotional honesty and personal autonomy.<br /><br />Though the book has been warmly received by readers and is already climbing Canadian bestseller lists, it has not done so well with certain members of the medical community, not to mention some reviewers (the Toronto Globe and Mail was particularly caustic, though they did praise his elegant and graceful expression of complex ideas). Maté's critics claim the author blames people for getting sick, that his ideas are too touchy-feely and that the science isn't there to back up his claims. However, When the Body Says No presents compelling evidence that our psyches and our bodies are so inextricably intertwined that they are inseparable.<br /><br />As for emotional repression, Maté found it has very long roots. What happened to us when we were kids really does affect us dramatically in the here and now, especially if "negative" emotions like anger were repressed and love was poorly expressed. And early trauma leaves an impact like a wrecking ball hitting delicate crystal.</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-20992960967599690632010-06-12T10:35:00.004-04:002010-06-12T10:50:27.062-04:00Pecans and ALS - It's Nuts<a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:pUG6oyVcjtK1bM:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Pecans.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 98px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:pUG6oyVcjtK1bM:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Pecans.jpg" /></a> Eating about a handful of pecans each day may play a role in protecting the nervous system, according to a new animal study published in the current issue of Current Topics in Nutraceutical Research. The study, conducted at the Center for Cellular Neurobiology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, suggests adding pecans to your diet may delay the progression of age-related motor neuron degeneration. This may include diseases like amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.<br /><br />Mice provided a diet supplemented with pecans displayed a significant delay in decline in motor function compared to mice receiving no pecans. Mice eating the diet with the most pecans (0.05%) fared best. Both pecan groups fared significantly better than those whose diets contained no pecans. The result was based on how the mice performed in highly specific tests, each of which compared mice on the control diet with mice consuming pecan-enriched diets.<br /><br />For more information on the health benefits of pecans, recipes, photos and much more, visit <a href="http://www.ilovepecans.org/" jquery1276346954812="104">www.ilovepecans.org</a>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-3976079435550191312010-04-08T08:24:00.004-04:002010-04-09T11:35:34.746-04:00Cough Assist for ALS<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ITsTy4A16lQ/S73L4h72RNI/AAAAAAAAA7c/z_cfZ4kf9Eg/s1600/cough.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457742495485412562" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ITsTy4A16lQ/S73L4h72RNI/AAAAAAAAA7c/z_cfZ4kf9Eg/s200/cough.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 194px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<div><br />
<br />
Cough Assist<br />
Studies have shown prolonged survival and a delayed need for tracheotomy by over a year with its use?<br />
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The CoughAssist noninvasively helps patients clear bronchial secretions when they can't cough for themselves. The CoughAssist is a safe, comfortable way to reduce the risk of airway damage and respiratory complications. Helps patients by enhancing or replacing their natural removal of bronchial secretions with the gradual application of positive pressure to the airway followed by a rapid shift to negative pressure. The slow inhale/rapid exhale airflow simulates the natural coughing process while avoiding the potential problems associated with more invasive procedures.Many physicians now recommend the Cough Assist or Exsufflator. This product is often ordered prior to or at the same time as the BIPAP. The Cough Assist is a prescription item that is covered by Medicare and Medicaid.</div><br />
<div><br />
Find out more, ask questions and pass on the information;<br />
<a href="http://www.coughassist.com/">http://www.coughassist.com/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.alshopefoundation.com/resp.php">http://www.alshopefoundation.com/resp.php</a></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-44335450678011828812010-03-14T15:59:00.005-04:002010-03-14T16:47:36.300-04:00ALS......The Long GoodbyeHard to watch...but harder to live with.<br />This is a family's journey with Lou Gehrig's Disease.<br /><br />Through Life we learn Suffering precedes Death.<br />Through ALS we learn Suffering engages the Family.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='425' height='344' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwKIBfVnFmooMwdwEKrIjfxaKhDz5JTNdZXR5SlXDbAr-5vh-e26rpV5DaV1D1Srub6U26hZ9Q-yHA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-36987686986522241302010-02-06T18:08:00.010-05:002010-02-06T19:57:34.114-05:00Because You Really Love that ALS Patient<a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:28iZARlePr5kKM:http://wetheadmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/pictures/2009/05/bio-bidet-bb-1000-supreme-bidet-300x227.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 116px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 88px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:28iZARlePr5kKM:http://wetheadmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/pictures/2009/05/bio-bidet-bb-1000-supreme-bidet-300x227.jpg" /></a><br /><div><p>Pamper yourself with a gentle, warm aerated stream. A convenient remote control allows you to personalize several functions including water temperature, pressure, and even offers a gentle cycling massage feature.<br />Follow cleansing with a touch of a button for an adjustable warm air-dry while enjoying the comfort of a gently heated seat. Both features include adjustable temperatures.<br />BB-1000 is equipped with state-of-the-art "smart power saving function" that calculates the most frequently used hours of the day for maximum savings with a powerful deodorizer that eliminates up to 90% of embarrassing odor.<br />Its patented 1 pocket 3 nozzles allow maximum hygiene with a soothing pulsating massage.<br />Equipped with the most advanced "Capacitance" seat sensor and "Self Diagnose," <a href="http://www.biobidet.com/" mce_href="http://www.biobidet.com/">BB-1000 </a>is truly the most advanced and complete bidet seat in the industry.</p><ul><li>Available in Round and Elongated. White or Biscuit. </li><li>Convenient Remote Control</li><li>Powerful deodorizer with carbon filter</li><li>Patented 1 pocket 3 nozzle system</li><li>Auto Smart Power Saving </li><li>Extra protections on electronic parts</li><li>Quality approved by UL CE TUV</li><li>Heated Seat</li><li>Warm Air Dry </li><li>Built-in Filter</li><li>Hydraulic Seat and Cover</li><li>Safety Sensor</li><li>Self-Diagnosis</li><li>Wide Cleaning</li><li>Massage Cleaning</li><li>Quick Release for Easy Cleaning</li><li>Gentle Aerated Water Stream</li><li></li></ul></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-14266795214757728352008-02-11T12:20:00.001-05:002008-12-08T20:07:38.007-05:00Pixie Dust for PALS<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6-LAwY7dJK0/R7CEX4glUSI/AAAAAAAAAK4/MvgY-AFWgi8/s1600-h/p-pan.jpg"></a> Lithium combined with Rilutek could slow ALS progression?<br /><br />Another United States discovery, no this hot item comes from the Italians. I suppose any news is better than no news at all. Lithium has been circulated in the neruogolical fiields for about ten years and now it's the newest healer, well maybe for this week. Something is horribly wrong with research results verses dollars spent. If Rilutek was more effective we would not need this new Peter Pan theory using Pixie Dust to slow ALS progression. Seems to me this sort of distraction only keeps us in that revolving door spinning between Life and Breath. We need Uncle Sam to stop wasting tax dollars on agencies that take a disease and uses it to create weekly paychecks. How about creating one task force to work on one disease. Make them accountable for progress every quarter, no results, new team / new staff.<br /><br />Like Lithium, ten years back we had another debacle that was called Myotrophin. Kyle Hahn led his fight against the FDA only to have Hope taken from him. Last week we saw the courage of Leo Green giving Hope to Lithium.<br /><br />Today Kyle and Leo have been taken from us by ALS and the movie never ends, it goes on and on and on.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-2049267070201468472008-01-17T08:05:00.002-05:002010-02-02T09:11:06.559-05:00Lou Gehrig's Patients Get Their Bill Blocked<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6-LAwY7dJK0/R49Ui0IDMSI/AAAAAAAAAIs/tKFDNanqLSo/s1600-h/vp-coburn.jpg"></a><br /><div>January 7, 2008 - by Donny Shaw - <a href="http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/">OpenCongress.org<br /></a><br />The ALS Registry Act, <a href="http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-s1382/show">S. 1382</a>, has been frozen by Senate trickery. As a person coping with ALS my dream is to keep it on the front page. This century old disease deserves more than a whisper.<br />ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is the most horrible disease in our modern times. ALS is the disease that takes a deadly toll on the body by a process of total muscle paralysis, which causes death in a very short time. While the amount of those being diagnosed is on the rise our numbers remain just low enough for science and the medical companies to turn and look away. ALS is the disease we like to whisper about. Reminds me of the homeless Veteran standing on the roadside with a cardboard sign that reads "Hungry, God Bless."<br />Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma is also a Doctor that thinks the Center for Disease Control collecting data on the variables of ALS is a waste of money. The ALS Registry Act was written and introduced four years ago. Endless hours by ALS Advocates and congressional time taken to approve and make sure it is acceptable has all been lost. The Senator found a way to kill the clock just before the other team won; Senate trickery called a "Hold."<br />Before adjourning for the year, Coburn vowed to put a hold on any bill that didn't meet a set of <a href="http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=HoldItems.Home">criteria</a> that he outlined on his website. Apparently, this is one of the bills that didn't make the cut, but Coburn has not yet issued a specific explanation as to why. He's got a lot of explaining to do with this one -- it is co-sponsored by two-thirds of the Senate and the House of Representatives already passed <a href="http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h2295/show">their version</a> of it by an overwhelming vote of 411-3. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-6187256110882812092008-01-06T09:51:00.004-05:002010-02-02T13:56:14.672-05:00Doctor, Senator, Deacon Kills ALS ProgressALS commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease is the most horrible disease in our modern times. ALS is the disease that takes a deadly toll on the body by a process of total muscle paralysis, which causes death in a very short time. While the amount of those being diagnosed is on the rise our numbers remain just low enough for science and the medical companies to turn and look away. ALS is the disease we like to whisper about. Reminds me of the homeless Veteran standing along the roadway with a cardboard sign that reads "Hungry, God Bless."<br />The person with the three identities is Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. He is the Doctor that thinks the Center for Disease Control collecting data on the variables of ALS is a waste of money. The ALS Registry Act was written and introduced four years ago. Endless hours by ALS Advocates and congressional time taken to approve and make sure it is acceptable has all been lost. The Senator found a way to kill the clock just before the other team won; Senate trickery called a "Hold." No public explanation yet but our guess is the Doctor has more important items to deal with. Saving Lives and Money?<br />As a Deacon, you would think he might give testimony to Benevolence before he creates the false identity of a Fiscal Conservative. The ALS community is not asking for a handout, we just need to be counted. Simply connect the dots of this horrid century old disease, that's all.<br />The ALS Registry Act S.1382 is now on "Hold" frozen in the Senate and more ALS victims are left by the side of the road holding a cardboard sign that reads "Help, God Bless."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-5935989334245821042007-12-27T16:34:00.000-05:002007-12-27T16:37:42.298-05:00Grinch Holds Lou Gehrig (ALS) Patients HostageALS patients nation wide are being held hostage this Christmas by a Grinch on Capitol Hill. His name is Tom Coburn, Senator from Oklahoma. The Wall Street Journal posted the front-page article on Dec. 21st and detailed how this Senator worked late while others adjourned for the Holidays. His scrooge style mission was to place a "hold" on selected bills, a procedural maneuver that allows a single senator to prevent a bill from being passed quickly without a roll-call vote or floor debate. The bill held hostage is the ALS Registry Act S.1382. This legislation would authorize the establishment of an ALS Registry at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The House of Representatives passed the bill on Oct.16, 2007 by an overwhelming 411-3 vote. The Senate H.E.L.P. Committee favorably reported the Senate version of the bill on Nov. 14, 2007 and more than two-thirds of the Senate has cosponsored the bill. The ALS Registry Act is needed to build on projects underway at the CDC and supported by the Congress and the Administration.<br />This bill was drawn up and introduced by Congressman Elliot Engel, N.Y. in 2004. When this bill finally becomes law it may take the CDC two years to collect the first of its ALS data. My question for Senator Coburn would be to tell me how many ALS patients would die in this five-year period. If we had the ALS Registry Act we would know the facts and much more Senator.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-27196437459406802032007-11-10T14:47:00.000-05:002007-11-10T14:52:16.086-05:00All Dressed Up and Nowhere to GoWhen I was a teenager I remember a sign out front of a funereal home across from the Dairy Queen. The sign read; Today we lay to rest; Alfred P. Smith (Atheist) All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go.Since ALS has robbed me of the ability to dress myself I leave everything to my wonderful wife. After a refreshing shower I remained in a trace as she dressed me for the day. It was a Florida perfect day and thought the time had come to do a little outdoor reading. After a while of sitting in the sun my wife brings out my last place Devil Rays ball cap. Dropping the book while turning the page I noticed I had on my boating shoes, fishing shorts, golf shirt and now the baseball cap. If you're familiar with ALS you should know that not one of these sports is possible for me anymore. I said outloud "isn't this just great, here I sit, All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10278882.post-89240128934321075152007-06-25T07:08:00.000-04:002007-06-25T07:12:47.569-04:00What ALS has Taught Me1. Patience<br />2. It isn't necessary to bite your nails.<br />3. Picking your nose is a memory.<br />4. Most doctors don't know anything about ALS.<br />5. Metamucil is my new friend.<br />6. The medical community is "big business" and their bottom line is profits.<br />7. If you really need to know something about ALS ask a Caregiver.<br />8. Some PALS have no sense of humor.<br />9. Some PALS do.<br />10. A good wife, spouse, makes life worth living!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0