IntrinsicTina

19 1 Do yourself a favor and watch the movie, Gleason: Diary of a Saint. While the subject matter is difficult, a sports hero is diagnosed with a terminal illness, the family deals with their new reality with love, humor,  and purpose. Six weeks after his diagnosis, his wife delivers a diagnosis of her own, she's pregnant. What ensues is a unique all access pass into Steve and Michel's life. If you're offended by off-color humor, this is not your movie.  I loved every piece of this flick! I found it unflinchingly honest. (Check Michel's look of horror when Steve's coordination starts to go following a triathlon or the communal nature of Steve's bathroom routine.) And as a fellow PALS (person with ALS), I garnered a few tips on how to set up my communication device for my weakening neck muscles. I also must find out where Steve got his leg pillows. Rather than going softly into that sweet night, Steve and Michel start their Gleason Initiative Foundation, whic...

My image will live on in a promotional video (DVD) for the Seattle Cossacks. In 1995, I was very active in the motorcycle community, particularly the Harley Davidson motorcycle community. It was just before I bought my first Harley Davidson Sportster. My boyfriend was a mild-mannered, tech-saavy, patch-holder in an outlaw motorcycle group. Whenever my boyfriend was too busy, I got shifted to his long-time friends, a successful, motorcycle-riding, married couple. I enjoyed this lively couple, logging many miles together when I finally took the plunge and bought my own ride. I was their third wheel for quite awhile and wouldn't you know, Rita, the wife, and I are captured for posterity flanking our Cossack friend, long-time bottom man, Dave Eady. We were attending the Sun and Surf Motorcycle Rally in Ocean Shores, Washington, viewing the ever popular Seattle Cossack's stunt riding performance. Afterward, we behaved like groupies, chatting up several team members, but Dave was...

1 Wow! Spot on...In so many ways.  Granted I wasn't in the the same socio-economic circumstance, and neither do I play piano but I was passionate about knitting and I lost the ability to engage in my passion practically from the onset of the ALS. Symptoms first manifested in my right hand as well. I was big on juicing, supplements, and did not worry about fats nor calories. But ALS advanced relentlessly. I hired friends as caregivers and had to bear the humiliation of being toileted by them.One of the worst hurdles for me was allowing a long time male friend wipe me following a toilet. My mother, stepfather, and sister all toileted me as well. Of course, my husband had to attend to all of my most delicate needs, showering, dressing and make-up application. I could really relate to Hillary Swank's character, Kate, in all circumstances except, she chose not to use the bipap (breathing apparatus).  I don't really get why somebody would opt out of a non-invasive solution to...

Last night my husband and I went out on a spontaneous "date".  Following a visit to the car repair shop, we found ourselves near the movie theater and popped in to see the movie, "Jack Reacher" with Tom Cruise.  This is a real deal as these days we are much less spontaneous due to...well, you'll see.  We knew we were in new territory as this was our first visit to a theater since the ALS diagnosis.  (I use a cane to walk and cannot use the restroom on my own.)  No problem, right? Attitude adjustment for certain.  First thing in the door we are gloriously assailed with the waft of hot popcorn...Yum!  But off limits to me with my present swallowing issues.  (The kernels collect at the back of my throat until I inhale them involuntarily and choke...Yikes!)  We bypass the snack bar altogether to avoid temptation (and to conserve money). Next, I look for a "family restroom" and find none.  Yikes again. We've already spent our money and ...