Today marks 73 years since Lou Gehrig gave his famous farewell speech to the game of baseball. A game he dearly, dearly loved. He had been diagnosed with ALS, and his loss of muscle control and reflexes were causing him to struggle in a game he has succeeded in for so long.
In 1939 few people knew anything about ALS, or what it was. In fact, Gehrig leaving baseball finally shed some light on the debilitating disease so people actually started referring to ALS as 'Lou Gehrig's disease'. It was a disease where nobody knew how you contracted it, there was no treatment, there was no cure.
Here we are 73 years later and people still don't know much about it. There is still no treatment, and still no cure. I urge you all to do a search on ALS and learn a little bit about just how devastating this disease is.
Unfortunately I know more about it than I ever wanted to as my mom was diagnosed with ALS in September 2010.
Today is one of those days where I just can't bring myself to talk about it but I wouldn't have felt right to have the entire day go by without remembering Lou Gehrig and toasting him for his bravery. He may have played for the most evil team ever to grace the face of the earth, but I have nothing but respect and admiration for him.
Here's to you Lou. May you Rest in Peace.
Thank you so much for sharing, Sarah. It's true that so many people still don't know much, if anything at all, about this disease. My obstacles are different, but if you ever need anyone to talk to, I'm just an email away!
ReplyDelete