I remember such random facts about my ALS diagnosis. I asked to listen to 80s music during my MRI and was sentenced to listening to a medley of Madonna tunes. The neurologist’s receptionist called the local clinic to schedule a second opinion for my “AL5” diagnosis (apparently, she wasn’t familiar with ALS, either). I ran into a fellow school mom in the lobby on my way out – could she see the devastation on my face? I spent the first night imagining the best way to kill myself – I was going to die, anyway, I thought, might as well take control of the process and timing. (Fortunately, I rebounded from that.)

I was 45 at the time, physically active and otherwise healthy. Continue reading →