“It is not down on any map; true places never are.” Herman Melville
As they say in many 12-Step Programs, “Hi, my name is Susan and I have ALS.”
In October 2010, my usual routine consisted of three mornings a week at the gym, a 50-hour work week (plus or minus), household responsibilities, church, family, and friends, not necessarily in order of importance. At 66 years old and in good health, I hadn’t even begun to consider retirement seriously. I loved my job as the Campus Vice President for Heald College, knowing every day we were helping students change their lives by providing a quality education, which enabled them to prepare for a better future.
One morning, while on the treadmill at the gym, I noticed my left foot was not cooperating. I later learned that what I was experiencing is commonly known as a drop foot. Without much encouragement, I scheduled the first of many doctor’s appointments. What followed was a year of visits to spine specialists, neurologists, a Chiropractor, and an Acupuncturist, which all required their own set of X-rays, MRIs, EMGs, blood tests, and so on. After a year of tests, on August 26, 2011, Cliff and I met with Dr. Oskarson at the UC Davis Medical Center, and the diagnosis was ALS. Needless to say, both of us were devastated, especially when we were told there is no cure.
After a few days of processing the information, we gathered the courage to share it with our family and friends. Fortunately, we are blessed to have a huge support group that cried and prayed with us and for us. Then we began our new journey.
–Susan