A very proud Mom and Gigi. Married to the love of my life. Living with
#ALS
C9orf72. GenX, liberal AF, rock and roll is boss. Football is my favorite season.
My last day of work forever is today. It wouldn't matter what day it is, I would never be ready.
#ALS
has taken most of my legs and now my job. Like a ninja thief, it sneaks in to dismantle my life. Bittersweet day for sure.
#endals
Some good news for the day. I have guardianship of my granddaughters, and today my 8 year old granddaughter qualified as a gifted student. This smarty pants makes me so proud.
#ALS
can suck it today, she is the news of my day.
The only time since June 2022 I didn't think about
#ALS
. Went to see an AC/DC tribute band with my main squeeze. AC/DC is my favorite band. Yes, I sang along to all the songs. I couldn't dance, but I was moving my arms and woo-hooing like I always have.
Some good
#ALS
news for me today. I had my 2nd ALS clinic appt. I have had no loss of function or progression since diagnosis. I am 14 months post symptom onset and same function as June 2022 when I was diagnosed.
#fuckals
Received news today that due to Total and Permanent Disability due to
#ALS
all $148k of my student loans will be discharged. I applied in December as ALS is one of the 13 qualifying conditions.
Today is the day I'm dropping off all disability paperwork to my neurologist. Starting short term disability on Dec 1 due to
#ALS
. There is also a chance to keep my life insurance if it is approved. Fingers crossed.
Just sharing my
#ALS
clinic update. July 2022 and Jan 2023 45 was my score. July 2023 44. In a year, I lost less than 1% of function in the subjective areas. Flail leg subtype ALS confirmed. Neuro said the words "you will make it more than 5 years" I sure hope.
#fuckals
So the first "I can move"
#ALS
dream happened last night. I was a ballerina for 13 years. I haven't danced in over 25 years. Last night in my dream, I was in the lead role. Moving so effortlessly. Great dream, until I woke up.
#ENDALS
Took my beautiful and festive granddaughters to see Santa. Of course, they both asked for something they had never mentioned prior to today. Gotta love it.
#ALS
didn't stop the fun.
So lucky this guy loves me back. When we said "in sickness and in health" I don't think either of thought it would be
#ALS
. I'm sorry you have to ride this ride with me. I'm thankful to have you for however long that may be.
#FUCKALS
First
#ALS
fall in public today. Tripped on a carpet at CVS and went down to my knees. My husband and a very kind shopper helped me up through a dead lift from the ground. I was grateful and embarrassed. No injury, just sore knees and ribs. I was ready to just live at CVS.
Today a fell down 3 steps leading out our back door. I still walk with lower limb onset in right leg. I trusted my right leg and it let me down....literally. Just a few bruises and I did sit on the landing for 10 minutes figuring out how to get up.
#ALS
#FuckALS
When I'm 64 just came on. I was singing along. My granddaughter, 7 asked me "what are you going to do when you're 64?" I didn't know what to say. So I just shrugged. Reality is I'm 46 with
#ALS
, probably won't see 64.
#fuckals
#ENDALS
30 year class reunion yesterday for my husband. The party was up 1.5 flights of stairs.
#ALS
did not win. I climbed those stairs like a boss. Up and down 3 times.
@DParton61
Awe Santa did a lot of work. Hope my kiddos are happy tomorrow morning. Merry Christmas to all. Wishing hardest for a cure for
#ALS
but soaking in the love of this day. I don't know how many Christmas mornings I have left , so making the most of the ones I'm given.
Telling people I have
#ALS
always makes them sad. It took me months of weird walking and 100 "what's wrong with your leg" to finally say it. It is a gut punch I deliver with every person I tell. I always smile when they say "I hope you feel better soon"
Happy Day
#ALS
world. Today is my 47th birthday. Big announcement... My son was chosen as one of the Iron Horse scholarship recipients. This is the $2,130 dollars per semester through Live Like Lou. I am beyond proud and reverent for what this means. Feeling doubly grateful today
Took a fall today. No injuries other than to my pride. Tripped on my toes and straight to my knees on the bathroom floor. Crawled to the bedroom and pulled myself up onto the bed. Rolled and stood up.
#ALS
shoutout to my arms today.
#fuckals
I hate what I have lost.
Tested positive for covid 19 yesterday, after my husband tested positive on Sunday. Sharing is caring, I guess. Started Paxlovid today. I felt terrible yesterday and already feel better. I hate
#ALS
and Covid. Stay safe everyone. Covid is making the rounds.
Today is a hard day in
#ALS
land. I have many really good days. Resiliency is just in short supply today. Wishing you all a world of happiness and ease of mind today.
So, I ordered both the probiotic and B12 that received promising reviews in the studies for
#ALS
. They are OTC, so why not. Trying to save my own life is exhausting.Thanks to my RN sister, who helped me find the correct ones.
My baby is turning 21 at midnight. I'm dusting off my party girl attitude of my 20's and leaving
#ALS
at home to toast my lovechunk as he enters the best years of his life. He has made my life so full of love and I love him with my whole heart. Throwback to our first day together
#ALS
clinic day. 17 degrees and a winter wonderland of lake effect snow abound. 43 of 48 FRS. That is only 2 points since my 45 in 2022. Lost the points in walking/climbing stairs. Hope everyone has a beautiful day.
#endals
heavy on the
#fuckals
I have known about
#ALS
since I was a kid. Listed as my biggest, and what I thought was an irrational fear, I never believed this is how I will die. Oh, the naivety of me. Even when diagnosed my sister said "our worst fears never come true" as we cried in disbelief.
Still cutting up fruit and bending over to get dishes from the bottom shelf. I still do my own make up, braid my granddaughters hair, walking, and I can even drive. Hoping to stay this way so
#ALS
doesn't win. I am all in for
#nurown
. I am still early in this horrible disease.
Today I registered this chicken wing for Kindergarten. She is my youngest granddaughter. Seeing her graduation year, knowing I will be there in spirit only, makes even the best times hard. I deserve to see her walk across a stage at 18.
#approvenurown
#fuckals
Today is the day I have been waiting for all month. Let's get this approved now.
#AMX0035
@US_FDA
It could mean I could keep walking and living my life with movement.
#ALS
To all
#ALS
warriors here's a little levity. I apologized to my son for getting an incurable disease with zero life sustaining meds. He replied by saying "that's what it would have to be to take out Sarah Parton." When you're known for being tough...
#fuckals
#ENDALS
Just finished my first Healey Trial appointment at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh. I go back at the end of the month to be assigned to a regimen. Doing my part to help end
#ALS
I just want to stick it to
#ALS
today. While I have right foot onset. I am always scared of the day I lose my arms/hands/fingers. Until then, I challenge myself to do extra. I have had guardianship of my granddaughter for 4 years. Doing her hair brings me joy.
#FUCKALS
I'm so sorry to everyone who was hanging onto Relyvrio as a promising treatment had their hopes dashed today. I have read so much sadness, anger, and resentment today.
#ALS
brings so much pain and loss. Adding to it just hits harder.
#endals
So 430 this morning I awoke to terrible belly pain and nausea. I walked to the bathroom and proceed to vomit for 10 minutes. The whole time all I thought about were all the warriors who couldn't have gotten up,turned their head, or wiped their mouths. Terrifying
#EndALS
Heading to Clearwater FL tomorrow. I was selected to be trained as an
#ALS
Research Advocate by NEALS. I'm almost all packed. Excited and nervous. Traveling with
#ALS
is never easy. Rollerator, meat wagon, cane, compression socks, AFO, and Billy zip shoes. ✈️
Mild
#ALS
above 35, moderate ALS above 25. According to current Adcom. Been on since 10am. Some tears during testimony from ALS community. I knew who everyone was. My appreciation to all the warriors who fought so hard for this ❤️. Thank you.
Wishing all my friends and especially my new
#ALS
friends a very happy New Year. I know these holidays are hard when we think too much. While mindful of this, be well, be tough, and keep going. Let's also hope this year brings us
#Nurown
I was diagnosed with
#ALS
a month after my 46th birthday. Today, I am 48. I love aging out of spite against this hideous beast of a disease. Suck it
#ALS
Putting on a pretty dress today and charging like the bull I am through another year.
Best pain free sleep of my life. 300 mg neurontin and 5mg thc/cbd gummy. Coma level sleep. The pain from edema and
#ALS
cramps were too much, so i have been trying all combos. Woke up with no hangover and felt great. Hope this helps someone else too.
This is my best friend. This was our new millenium photo in 2000 our friendship spanned 24 years. On July 29, 2021 she died suddenly from anoxic brain due likely to an aneurysm. I was diagnosed with
#ALS
on June 21, 2022. I don't fear death bc I know she is waiting for me.
I did my first dose of Relyvrio today. It smells like fruit punch, but tastes terrible. I used a straw and did as much as I could in the first gulps. As it got to the end the taste increased. As a chaser, coffee with Carmel creamer cleared my mouth of taste. Thankful always
#ALS
My Ramp is in and done. I took a little ride.
#ALS
restricts my walking, but this ramp....I feel so much better about being able to live my life. I can go outside whenever I want to now.
On our way back from a week long
@WaltDisneyWorld
vacation. I just want to shout out the Disability Services and all the ride staff that gave me extra special treatment. This made
#ALS
easier to forget.
#ENDALS
We took these cuties, a fox and a mermaid, to our local zoo for the Annual Zoo Boo. It includes treat stops and zoo fun. I am a lucky Gigi.
#ALS
lost again. I WILL see these 2 grow up.
Couples painting with my mini me. It was our first, and I think we nailed it. I am trying to get all the memories made before
#ALS
makes even this impossible. Grateful for today.
So the "hot flash" game is real. Big hot flash this morning caused me to vomit for about 2 minutes.
#ALS
and menopause ! Seriously? I really would like to be regular whelmed for even a day.
Heading to lunch with my granddaughter. Cruising along and my wheelchair got caught on a raised curb. Dumped me out onto the sidewalk. I was always lucky I never hit my face.I guess it was my turn. My son came and picked me up off the ground.
#ALS
never has good timing.
This week is our town's fire department fundraising festival. It is called the Cherry Fest. Last year I walked unassisted around the whole thing. This year we need handicapped parking and an electric wheelchair. I really hate
#ALS
. I can't walk far anymore.
How important are family and caregivers? I had
#ALS
clinic yesterday. Lost some important FRS points, but my Neuro said that even with loss of function, he sees me as doing better than most of his patients because I have so much support. Couldn't agree more. Thanks caregivers.
Finally, after nearly a year since I first had measurements for a ramp and over 45 phone calls, it is scheduled to be installed tomorrow.
#ALS
has made stairs too challenging, and I have not made the 3 steps many times. I'm getting some dignity back tomorrow.
Today is 2 years since I was diagnosed with
#ALS
. It's not a celebratory anniversary, but one that reminds me how dedicated I am to surviving. On global
#ALS
/
#MND
Awareness Day, let me assure you that 2 years ago, I was more aware than ever.
#endals
Well, I got my first
#ALS
pressure sore on my foot from my AFO and the way my foot positions in it. My RN sisters were pretty concerned. All bandaged up and off my feet for a while. Ball of foot and 4th toe both have them. This f'ing disease. Always something.
#fuckals
Happy Thanksgiving to all my
#ALS
friends, caregivers, family, and advocates. I am thankful for all of you, even if today is just another Thursday for you....I'm still grateful to have you in my life.
Today my PCP told me he doesn't think it's
#ALS
because I only have foot and ankle paralysis. He thinks the problem could be nerves. He said both upper and lower motor neurons need to be effected. The kind of mind fuck that visit was....false hope is dangerous to me.
Busy day for this
#ALS
gal. Lunch with a fundraising team, found out I will be in Healey regimen f, then mentor training. Whew. My whole life is now about making a difference and leaving an impact.
When my son said, "I wasn't sure which flowers were your favorites, so I bought them all" He is my whole heart. Happy Mother's Day to all
#ALS
warriors, advocates, caregivers, and allies. To those who lost a mom to
#ALS
, this day is a hard one and we see you.
You know who knows what it feels like to be stuck in something that can't move and all electric has failed? Who are also air starved and nobody knows how to save them? That would be people with
#ALS
. ALS is also like the ocean. It doesn't care who you are. It stays just as fierce
I did not have facial cellulitis on my 2024 bingo card, but here we are. Photos don't even do it justice. The pain is constant and next level. It is spreading to my neck, fire poker hot, and I have had on and off fevers. Yay to the new year.
#ALS
and cellulitis.
Today, my granddaughter, who is 8 said to me she is sorry that I had to have "quadrilateral sclerosis". I said we all have to have some fights in life, with a chuckle. God, I love that kid .
#ALS
Flags are available to view. I got an email. Still hard to look at.
#ALS
. If anyone didn't get the email and wants me to post theirs or their loved one's, let me know. I will. ❤️
#ALS
Thursday aka every day. Dependent edema in my right lower foot is the pits. Next up, a referral to Lymphodema Clinic. Just one more thing.
#endals
Friday humor. My apologies to anyone not ready for it. But I felt this to my core today.
#ALS
life should come with coupons or loyalty bucks of some kind. "Sorry you have ALS and no cure...here's 5 million dollars." That would be thoughtful, at least.
Good morning. Woke up and still have
#ALS
. Could I please have a better chance of survival? I'm dying waiting. Kind of tired of being terminal.
@US_FDA
#NurOwnworks
The ALS community needs a Hero. My dear friend, the godfather of Crypto died of ALS. A little biotech company called
@BrainstormCell
has an amazing drug called
#nurown
. Ticker BCLI. The treatment works. Yet the
@US_FDA
is not patients tell the story. It works
@mikeavaz1
I am so lucky to have so much family who are already planning to be my caregivers. Most of my siblings are nurses. This is a big problem in
#ALS
world and we can't live our lives without help. This is so sad.
Yesterday, I was blindsided when my main caregiver quit over text. We've worked together for 3 years. Zero notice, zero reasoning. Our
#ALS
world has been turned upside down. I wish her the best moving forward, but WOW.
#heartbroken
Dealing with pressure sores on my paralyzed foot is a next level pain in the ass. I can still walk but I can't walk without pain.
#ALS
gives zero breaks. Toes wrapped up like little mummies. Ball of my foot so padded, I'm 4 inches taller. Giant UGH.
Heading to my clinical trial for regimen F in Pittsburgh today. I have been riding the
#ALS
struggle bus ever since I started this trial. My family has commented on the decline since starting. I may be the placebo or my ALS has officially sped up.
#endals
#ALS
friends. I would love to coordinate a virtual get together. There are a few people interested. Just a chance to talk and see each other and break up loniliness. Any body is welcome with any neuro condition. US, Canada, and anywhere. Drop a comment if interested.
Carved pumpkins with my granddaughters. They hate cleaning them out, but love to create. Thanks to their pops for doing most of clean out.
#ALS
can't stop Halloween for us.
#ALS
is one of those things that no matter how much you want something, it doesn't care. Just one day that isn't a struggle would be amazing. Please add skin breakdown to "the things I don't need" list.
First Healey Trial appt coming up Feb 15. Because I am under 36 months, I am willing to do my part. There is no information on which regimen I will do. Assuming I qualify, they will randomly assign me to one.
#endals
Happy Wednesday to all my beautifully strong
#ALS
warriors, their loved ones, allies, and caregivers. I have never seen a group so supportive and inclusive. Big Wednesday hugs.
Just donated for the 3rd time to Fetterman for Senate campaign. I can't wait to vote for him. I am also kinda hoping this may move me closer to the chance of being best friends with our SLOP? 👭🏻 Proud to be in PA to be able to vote for you
@JohnFetterman
@giselefetterman
Anyone going to the Pittsburgh Pirate's game in June for Lou Gerhig Day, my granddaughter, was asked to be on the field to say "Play Ball." We will be there with Live Like Lou.
#ALS
Awareness and baseball.
#ALS
is giving me constantly cold, nearly frozen level cold legs and feet. Nothing is able to warm them. This is the first experience with not being able to warm them up. Painful and uncomfortable. Any suggestions welcome.
#ENDALS
No power since 1030 am. High winds up to 63 mph. I'm just tired of surviving things. Thankfully my
#ALS
does not require power. The meat wagon is still fully charged. This is ridiculous, though.
Looking to spend the anniversary of my
#ALS
diagnosis staring up at the big sky in Montana. Does anyone live in/near that can recommend the best town to stay in. Planning to go in June. I don't want to be in a forest, I live in PA and we have a ton. Thanks
Lymphodema clinic..."You need these wraps and they're not covered by insurance." That should be the definition of
#ALS
. All the things you need will not be covered by insurance.
Drowning in bed lately. There is a soundtrack of grunts and noises that accompany my rolling over and getting out of bed. I have not had restful sleep in many days.
#ALS
just keeps bringing the hits.
If you or someone you know has been touched by Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and is a dependent pursuing higher education, Live Like Lou is pleased to share our interest application for our 2024 Iron Horse Scholarships. Apply before February 21:
Another Gen X
#ALS
bucket list concert. Violent Femmes in Cleveland. Such a good show. Not the best venue for a wheelchair but I could hear every word.
Big thank you to
@LiveLikeLou4
for the Lou Gehrig Day honor. My son was recognized for his Iron Horse Scholarship.
@Pirates
also gave 1K extra to his award. It was a pleasure to meet all the beautiful people at Live Like Lou. I am beyond humbled and grateful.
#ALS
awareness.
Who else got stairs for Christmas? Everywhere we went...stairs. Shout out to my arms, who pulled me through Christmas. Still walking and OWNING every trip up and down. Merry Christmas.
Paxlovid said to Relyvrio...hold my beer.
#ALS
Thankful for both, but they are in hot competition for which can be more disgusting. This is a hard week for my tastebuds.