Normal? – Content? – Thankful?

Last year, midway through ALS awareness month, I took those three letters and put them under a microscope for a close look. Normal popped up first because it has been fading daily from my world. While coping with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) normal begs to be redefined each morning and I’m not alone. As science continues to search for the ALS triggers, they continue to attack veterans, the young, the old, male and female. As we wait for a clue and a cure, all I can do is send out SOS’s when possible and raise my voice one keystroke at a time.

As muscles waste, ALS forces your body into a small box of Content. There are fingernails uncut and itches unscratched. Towards the end of this complacent journey we are left with the use of two objects, eyes and mind. Most ALS patients call this a blessing to examine the past and gaze the future. Without ALS awareness, people may think we’re normal but many will never understand involuntary daily content.

Thankful, of course I’m Thankful. With ALS you are going to require special care. My wife serves as my caregiver and forever thankful to her. I’m thankful she feeds me, brushes my teeth, baths me, shaves me, and combs my hair. When a spouse becomes a caregiver, true love is displayed most when they have no objections in their new role. I’m thankful for those simple one directional hugs, because I will always have that sense of feel.

So, I type onward with one finger, feeling sort of normal, somewhat content, but evermore thankful.