News Postings is our version of a BLOG and will address topics under multiple categories including: Reflections, News, Events, Christopherisms and others we may add in the future.  These categories are intended to give you a glimpse into our life as we deal with the diagnosis of ALS.  We invite you to click on comments and give your feedback which will appear on the site.  The comments you make may spark further discussion and are greatly encouraged.  If you don't want your comment public, just send us an email instead.   Thank you for being here!

It’s been quite a while since I have written anything for our postings.  I’ve been in a bit of a quandary lately, I guess.   Part of it is survivor’s guilt from all my fellow PALS whose funerals I have been attending.   Part of it is since we had this expectation of me dying set within 2 to 5 years of diagnosis from the doctors; I am kind of outliving my retirement.  In essence wondering, 'Now what?'  Part of it is feeling progression in areas I can specifically identify such as fatigue, weakness and pain in my right arm and shoulder. Before, it was more generalized.  This caused me to reconfigure my office and get a new mouse from the ALS Association.

Another part is what Jennifer touched on in her last posting.  She mentioned the feeling of abandoning the Tri-State Trek and most importantly our riders from Team Bishop, Todd Morin and Ty Ricker.  The difference for me was that I was not going back to Denver for something I was excited for.  I was happy to do it to support Jennifer and all her efforts heading the committee for her reunion.  Still, I felt empty because of leaving the Tri-State Trek, again.  When Todd and Ty called to give updates, it was really great to hear from them, however, I felt emotionally distant from them.  I just couldn’t relate to what they were going through. 

Ty helped by explaining that he felt extreme pain and fatigue throughout the event and started to realize that many PALS feel these symptoms chronically.  He thought of me and other PALS frequently on the ride and wanted me to describe some of what I feel daily.

It is difficult to explain, even to Jennifer, but she can see a lot of it.  Mornings are probably the worst because my medications have worn off from the night before.  I have aches all over and feel like arthritis has entered my hands, hips and knees.  Jennifer is so kind to bring me my meds and let me stay in bed until they take effect along with a fresh cup of coffee.  My pains vary throughout the day depending on activity.  Simply shaving or drying my hair starts with my right arm fully extended, but by the time I’m done my shoulder has collapsed from fatigue and I am hunched over the sink just to finish.  Jennifer pointed that out to me.  I just seemed to modify my behavior without realizing it. 

My biggest problem is that I still have the initial strength to do many things, but my muscles fatigue quickly.  I don’t know when to stop so I often over do it.  My recovery time is much longer than most people, if I recover completely at all.  Aching joints, cramping and twitching muscles are all day occurrences.  Ty simply could not imagine going through these feelings everyday.  The fact that he knew he would heal and recover increased his motivation and stamina to finish each day.

It was not until we had a small impromptu party to celebrate their ride and some of the people who supported them emotionally and financially, when I finally started to relate. 

Todd and Ty shared stories and pictures of their experience and finally seeing their emotion and enthusiasm is what did it. 

This is where all of you come in.  I wanted you all to know what these guys went through to support Jennifer and me.  We will be posting some pictures of the ride on our site, but more importantly, Todd and Ty will be chronicling their adventure as guest authors on this site in future posts.  We are in desperate need for financial support of their efforts, so please don’t wait for their postings to contribute.  Our goal is $10,000 for Team Bishop and we have not done a good enough job getting information out to you, our readers, to motivate you.  Please remember these two riders paid their own way to get there and then were responsible for $1650 dollars in pledges.  We are not even up to the $3300 minimum needed for the team.  We have additional time after the event to collect pledges.  Any amount will help.  Thank you to all that have already given generously and also to anyone else who can help support these rider’s efforts and ALS research. 

All you need to do is click on the following hyperlink to download the sponsor page .pdf and mail in your check or credit card information directly or fax just the credit card info and page to (860)-656-7197.  You can also just click the Online Pledge button on the menu bar of our site.  This gives you the option to do an online credit card payment that goes directly into our account and we will write one check to the Tri-State Trek.  If you require a receipt for this transaction for tax purposes, let us know in the notes section and we will have them send you a receipt directly.