Reply With QuotePlease do not delete.Originally Posted by Katastrophe
Sharing your care and sadness about a family member who finds himself fighting a tough disease is appreciated.
Regular Fretter
My stepdad has ALS.
My stepdad has ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Some of you might be familiar with the disease as it is the same that affects guitar wizard Jason Becker. It's a progressive disease, with no known cure.
ALS, put simply, sucks. My stepdad was diagnosed last October.
At this point, we (the family) are trying to focus on quality of life. Hospice care has been brought in, and they are working hard to monitor my stepdad, and keep him comfortable. I can't say enough about the compassionate people that take care of him.
What makes this disease even more difficult is that it attacked a man who has always been highly active. My stepdad usually spent his time outside, and worked very hard to provide a life for our family. Growing up, he'd get antsy if he stayed inside for too long. Today, he spent the majority of the day in bed, sleeping.
Only about 5,000 people in the US are diagnosed annually, so there isn't as much funding for ALS research as there is for other diseases. That sucks, too.
I was hesitant to post this... I still might delete the post. I'm feeling pretty sad for my stepdad today. Damn.
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Ibanez RG 570 with a bridge Invader
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Blackstar HT Club 40
Regular Fretter
Please do not delete.
Sharing your care and sadness about a family member who finds himself fighting a tough disease is appreciated.
Less golf, more saxophone
Lefty O'lman
My heart goes out to you and your family, Kat.
You will be in our prayers and our hearts. The fact that your stepdad has a loving and caring family is a good thing.
Guitars
Wilburn Versatare, '52 FrankenTele(Fender licensed parts), Fender USA Roadhouse Strat, Fender USA Standard B-bender Telecaster, Agile AL 3000 w/ WCR pickups, Ibanez MIJ V300 Acoustic, Squier Precision Bass,
Amps
Ceriatone Overtone Special, Musicman 212 Sixty-Five, Fender Blues Jr., Peavey Classic 30, Fender Super Reverb, Traynor YCV-40 WR Anniversary w/ matching 1x12 ext. cab, Epiphone SoCal 50w head w/ matching 4x12 cab (Lady Luck speakers), Avatar 2x12 semi-open back cab w/ Celestion speakers
Pedals
Digitech Bad Monkey, Digitech Jamman, DVM's ZYS, Goodrich volume pedal
Addicted to solder....
That's a tragic thing to hear, and I can certainly relate. My dad--one of the greatest guys you could ever meet--died of ALS back in '95. It is truly a horrible, horrible disease. You have my deepest condolences. I pray that your stepdad doesn't suffer too much.
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Master Fretter
I'm really sorry to hear about that. I've known a couple of people who had family members with ALS, and it's not easy. I'll be praying for you.
Guitars: Gibson LP Studio, MIA Fender Precision, Carvin C350
Amps: Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 + Avatar B212 / Genzler 12-3, Acoustic B20
Pedals: Pod HD500X, Diamond Compressor, Tech 21 VT Bass, Sonic Research Turbo Tuner
Valar Morghulis
I really do feel for you and the family. This is a mean disease.
All I can suggest is to see what he really wants to do in his life that he's never done, and try to make it happen soon, before things progress.
"I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth."
-Lou Gehrig
Hopeless Noodler
I'm sorry, Kat. My thoughts are with you and your family.
-Sean
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Amphs: More than last year.
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Super Duper Fretter
Prayers and mojo coming your step-dad's way.....and the rest of the family too. ALS is brutal. Glad to hear you have hospice care involved. They make a world of difference for the family.
Contributing Member
Prayers and mojo. I am sorry to hear he and your family are going through this.
Steve Thompson
Sun Valley, Idaho
Guitars: Fender 60th Anniversary Std. Strat, Squier CVC Tele Hagstrom Viking Semi-hollow, Joshua beach guitar, Martin SPD-16TR Dreadnought
Amphs: Peavey Classic 30, '61 Fender Concert
Effects and such: Boss: DS-1, CE-5, NS-2 and RC20XL looper, Digitech Bad Monkey, Korg AX1G Multi-effects, Berhinger: TU100 tuner, PB100 Clean Boost, Line 6 Toneport UX2, Electro Harmonix Little Big Muff Pi, DuhVoodooMan's Rabid Rodent Rat Clone, Zonkin Yellow Screamer Mk. II, MXR Carbon Copy Delay
love is the answer, at least for most of the questions in my heart. . .
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Oranges and lemons, say the bells of St. Clements...
I'm very sorry to hear this. We went through this fairly recently with my wife's mother, and it was hard for all of us. It's awful.
Be strong. Our thoughts are with you.
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