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It was November 18, 2004 and I was sitting in my new office on the first day of my new position as postmaster of Park Ridge Illinois, I reflected back on all the hard times not to mention all the hard work it had taken for me to prove myself worthy/capable of being a postmaster. As I looked out the window, I began thinking that life couldn't get much better. Here I was, the new postmaster of a very prominent city in Illinois as well as a professional musician (guitarist) in a steady gigging band, performing with guys that I really enjoyed working with.
My son was in his last year of college, and my daughter was finishing up her senior year in high school on the principal's honor roll. My wife was working at a decent paying job and together we were collectively trying to pay down our mortgage while at the same time rearranging our finances so that our overachieving daughter could attend the college of her dream = Depaul University. At 47, I really felt that I was on top of the world, and that the best was yet to come. THAT'S WHEN THE HOUSE FELL ON ME !!
Four months later, while performing with my band to a very packed nightclub, my right forearm began to cramp up and stress out to the point where I could no longer perform. After 10 months of steady decline in my right arm, the bad news/diagnosis came at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.The diagnosis was ALS and the heartlessly delivered prognosis was total paralysis and death in two to five years. We were told there was no treatment and that research was basically at a standstill. We (my wife and I) walked in shock from the doctors office straight to our hotel room, checked out, grabbed a cab, and caught the first plane back to Chicago.
My disease has steadily progressed since, I have become almost totally paralyzed in my entire upper torso and I am slowly losing my ability to breathe. If things continue progressing as they are, it will soon be necessary for me to have a tracheostomy, in order for me to continue to breathe/live. My wife Susan and I, like any couple handed such a difficult challenge, have struggle emotionally to say the least. But, as followers of Jesus Christ, we believe our sins will be forgiven and we will attain eternal life with God and all his children who have gone before us.
It's taken some time, but I am slowly coming to realize that who I am is not so much my physical appearance/ body, but rather my nonphysical spirit. I am basically paralyzed in my entire upper torso, my breathing muscles are slowly diminishing and I am presently living in a state of great uncertainty. In spite of this, I have not lost one ounce of my dignity. No one can take that away from me, I have to surrender it, and I don't foresee that ever happening. I have always had pride in my appearance, accomplishments, intelligence, character, and most important, my integrity. For that I owe a debt of gratitude to my mother Carmen for being a leader, generous, and most important a very great role model.
We (entire family) are very grateful for the vision and specifically the Mission of ALSTDI and encourage your generous donations/financial support.
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