Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, commonly referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig91裸聊视频檚 Disease, is a rare fatal neurological disease that attacks ones motor neurons. It affects over 3,000 people in Canada, and close to 500 in B.C.
Karen Gossen is one such B.C. resident, and was diagnosed with the disease back in 2014.
Speaking to Black Press, the Winfield resident is preparing to participate in the Move to Cure ALS walk at Vernon91裸聊视频檚 Polson Park on Saturday, June 10.
91裸聊视频淭his will be my sixth walk/move since diagnosis,91裸聊视频� said Gossen. 91裸聊视频淟uckily, we have faithfully been joined in the event by family and friends.91裸聊视频�
Her journey since being diagnosed has, thus far, been slow. Throughout the past eight and a half years, ALS has primarily affected her legs. She currently uses a manual wheelchair at home.
Gossen, as she said herself, has been lucky, having much outlived the standard life span of someone diagnosed with ALS.
91裸聊视频淭he doctors typically say between two-to-five years. Some go quicker, and some faster but mine has been relatively slow.91裸聊视频�
There is no cure for ALS, which is a frightening reality for those diagnosed and their family members.
91裸聊视频淲hen I first heard the doctor91裸聊视频檚 words that it was ALS, I immediately asked 91裸聊视频榳hat are the next steps/ what91裸聊视频檚 the cure,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� said Karen91裸聊视频檚 husband, Randy, who has taken on more of a caretaking role in recent years. 91裸聊视频淗aving to hear from the doctor that there is truly no cure to solve it (ALS) was very tough to hear.91裸聊视频�
After spending the majority of their working lives on the Prairies, the couple moved to the Lake Country area for retirement.
91裸聊视频淲e were big travellers, and we partly picked Lake Country/Winfield because of how close it is to the airport,91裸聊视频� said Randy.
However, since Karen91裸聊视频檚 diagnosis, their whole retirement plan was thrown into the wind.
The diagnosis now makes it extremely difficult to travel and little things, such as watching one of their grandchildren play sports, takes much more time.
91裸聊视频淲e just have to learn to adjust and take it one day at a time,91裸聊视频� Karen explained. 91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 even think about things we cannot do anymore as that just takes us down a bad path, so we try to be positive.91裸聊视频�
Their house, while not initially built to be accessible friendly, has been outfitted with ramps, poles and other equipment so that Karen can get around.
91裸聊视频淚 haven91裸聊视频檛 been downstairs in years,91裸聊视频� she laughed. 91裸聊视频淏ut Randy is my rock and caregiver and I still do the laundry and put away the dishes, as it91裸聊视频檚 a good way to keep my agency.91裸聊视频�
The Gossens sing the praises of the ALS Society of BC for their support throughout their journey.
91裸聊视频淲e are so thankful to have had the help of them,91裸聊视频� Karen said. 91裸聊视频淭hey have been wonderful assisting us.91裸聊视频�
Some of the things that the society assists with is providing (free of charge) wheelchairs, walkers, and other modes of transportation, along with meetings with occupational therapists.
In addition, there are support groups, through Zoom, where those affected by the disease have an outlet to express themselves, and help one another.
Sixty per cent of funds from the ALS Move to Cure event on Saturday, June 10, will go towards the society, to assist those living with the disease in B.C. and the Yukon
Registration starts at 10 a.m., with a start time for moving set for 11 a.m. Those who attend will come together to move, whether that be walking, running, rolling, supporting or just being present. There will be a barbecue and 50/50 draw, along with other family-friendly fun.
Fourty per cent of the funds from the walk also go towards Project Hope, which works on the front lines of the world91裸聊视频檚 health challenges, partnering hand-in-hand with communities, health care workers and public health systems to ensure sustainable change.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 going to be a great experience, and I am very excited to get moving on Saturday,91裸聊视频� Karen said.
You can donate to the Move to Cure ALS .
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