New Shower

After experiencing some ripples lately, I am once again enjoying the calm waters. With each loss I experience, usually brings with it a time of mourning the losses I am going through at that particular moment. The cooler weather seems to magnify the spasticity which makes movement of hands and legs harder to control.

This week we are replacing our existing shower with a barrier free shower which will allow easier access in and out if the shower eliminating the need to step up into the shower. I cannot lift my legs that high anymore. Thanks to Graybill Plumbing and Danny Fisher for installing the new shower. Even though this is another change, it is a positive change and will be a blessing for me and Emy. Some of the things I never thought about and took for granted, have now become monumental issues. Never take anything for granted, it could change at anytime.

Right now I have a caregiver come twice a week to do range of motion exercises with me. It is supposed to help keep my joints loose and stretch my muscles to help eliminate the spasticity in my arms and legs. It seems to be helping, I think.

Reflections

This morning as I was getting ready for the day shaving, combing my hair, and brushing my teeth I thought about the person I see in the mirror. I saw a person that is the exact reflection of me. I got to thinking about what others see when they see me. Do they see someone who has a desire to honor God, someone who reflects the image of God. I must say as I began to reflect on my life to this point, I saw someone who is less than perfect but also a person that strives to be what God wants me to be. There are so many people and events to thank that have a part in making me the person I am today.

Did you ever sit at the edge of a body of water and see your reflection in the calm waters then have something disturb the water causing your reflection to become distorted? Just like our lives we experience some ripples in our life and then the ripples go away and the water is calm again and we can see our reflection clearly again.
Sometimes we experience ripples in our life but after the ripples are gone the presence of God restores the calmness back into our hearts and minds.

Lately I've been experienceing the ripples but today is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it and not worry about tomorrow and put my hands in his.

Seasons

Well there's not a whole lot to write about as not much has changed. I have been enjoying this weather but I know old man winter is just around the corner. Like the weather we experience different seasons in our lives. I'm thankful God has provided a place of refuge when the storms of life come our way.

October 1st 2008

This past weekend Emy and I went to Virginia to spend a few days with Aaron and Becky Stoltzfus. Even though the weather wasn't that great we had a great time relaxing, playing games, and just hanging out. They are such kind and caring friends, thank you.

Lately I've been experiencing some decline in strength in my arms, especially my left arm and hand. I am learning to accept these changes which ultimately will make me more dependent on others to help me do things I am no longer able to do. This week I feel at peace with my situation and learning to put my trust in God as this earthly body deteriorates.

It breaks my heart to see my wife dealing with the frustration that comes with this disease. I know it is hard for her, but she is a real trooper though it all. Pray for strength, courage, grace, and peace as we travel on this journey together.

Gordie Day/Fundraiser

Gordie Day/Fundraiser

Saturday, 9/20/2008 Buck and Verna Mowday along with family and friends had a fundraiser event for our family. It included a motorcycle ride, car show, barbeque chicken and breakfast. The weather was absolutely perfect. There were about 40 bikes that showed up for the ride and a dozen or so cars. It was a fun day of fellowship, food and fun. The fastest amish buggy in the world was there too courtesy of Jim Groff and his son Doug. All in all it was a great day. I am so thankful for everyone that made this day a success. The proceeds will help with bathroom modifications and other things insurance will not cover. I can't express my gratitude enough for everyone that donated and volunteered. I am blessed to have such caring people surrounding me and my family as we cope with this dreadful disease and the difficulties that it presents.
I got to ride in that buggy,very fast!

Grand Opening

This past weekend was the grand opening for the Gap Family Center. http://www.gapfamilycenter.org/ I was able to spend some time with Bill and Karen who are close friends of ours from Florida. They have impacted my life more than they will ever know.
At several times throughout the weekend there were several different concerts that were part of the event. I went to the Sonicflood concert and they were awesome. The lead singer gave his testimony about his battle with chromes disease and how he was healed. He reminded me once again that God has a purpose and plan for our lives. It really resonated with me and spoke to me personally, yes I am in God's will for my life, regardless of the circumstances surrounding my life.
Sunday night the Isaacs had a concert and one of the songs they sang was I Surrender All. Even though my physical body is failing me, I will surrender all to him. They too spoke of God's plan and purpose in our lives. I guess God is affirming that I am in his plan for my life. By faith I am trusting him and putting my life in his hands.

God's Plan/Suffering

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=aa686a58e29293f0b6b7

I found this video and wanted to share it with you. Kinda help put things in perspective.

This weekend

This weekend Emy and her sisters and Mom went to Ocean City, Maryland, something they do every September. I'm glad she can get away once in a while without her having to worry about me. Chad and Clint stayed with me for the weekend and took care of me. They are such a blessing to have around. They do a great job taking care of me. It was nice to spend the weekend with them watching football. Go Cowboys!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday we went to church, our first service in the new Gap Family Center. It was good to be all together in one service. Merrill talked about change and how we deal with it. I was thinking about how our lives have changed so much in the last couple of years dealing with ALS. While I still struggle with this change at times, I know God has a purpose in everything that happens in our lives. I pray for strength to hang in there and except what God's doing in my life. All I know is one day we will see the complete picture and we will understand why these things happen.
We can't always control our circumstances, but we can control how we handle them.

Labor Day Weekend

Labor day has come and gone and to me that means one thing, summer is almost gone and fall is fast approaching. The days get shorter, the kids are back to school, and cold weather is right around the corner. I don't really care for the winter months.
We spent the day with family and had a great time. the weather was absolutely perfect, and the food was great.
The past several weeks have been somewhat difficult for me. I feel slight changes taking place which is never a good thing with ALS. My arms feel weaker, my hands are weaker making things like eating, typing, turning pages when reading more difficult to do. I am extremely grateful that my breathing is relatively unaffected so far. I pray for healing every day,but I also know that if healing doesn't happen here on this earth I will be made whole when I get to heaven. I am grateful for a caring wife and family. They help me cope more than they realize most times. Pray for Emy and the boys as they travel this journey with me because I certainly couldn't do this by myself.
It is another gorgeous day outside and I praise God for giving me another day to enjoy!
As I am posting this I am listening to a song with lyrics stating God will provide. I'm counting on that.

August 25/2008

This past week I was reminded again of the fraility of life. I attended a funeral of an infant that was born perfectly healthy and contacted a viral infection and died after two weeks of life.
I thought to myself, how fair is that. Some people get to live a long time while others barely get to experience life at all. Even though some things in this life just don't seem to make any sense at all, I remind myself that God is in control and I need to put my trust and faith in him. I found this poem which helps me realize no matter what we face, we can still praise God.


I Still Will Praise Him
If I never see another dayOf sunshine here on earth,I still will praise the great CreatorWho gave to me new birth;And if I never see a brilliant moonOr sparkling star again,I still will praise my Heavenly FatherFor His great love for man.

When dark clouds hover all around me,And I can see no light,I just turn my eyes upon JesusAnd everything looks bright;In the midst of darkness and sorrow,He undergirds with care,And I can face each new tomorrowJust knowing He is there.

God’s great kingdom shall ever prevail,No matter what may come,And His people are ever secure,Abiding in His Son;He is my Refuge, Hightower, Strength,Great Redeemer, and Friend;Though the mountains tumble to the seaAnd all around caves in…I Still Will Praise Him!
~ Connie Campbell Bratcher

One Day At A Time

“One day at a time--this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering.”

I read this and thought about how true it is. That pretty well sums it up for me, one day at a time. Today is all any of us have.

August 18,2008

Yesterday we had church at Gap Park. The weather was absolutely wonderful and the food was delicious. The worship team really sounded great. I was wishing I could still be a part of the team. I really miss not being able to play guitar any more. I always looked forward to Sundays so I could play.

But in spite of all my losses, I still have so much to be thankful for, my family who support me so much, my church family that support us with their prayers and host fundraisng events to help with medical equiptment and supplies that insurance won't cover, and my wife and sons who are always there for me when I need them. Even though I'm extremely limited to what I can do, I think that I am still able to remain fairly indpendent.

My son Clint is getting married in the spring, so that is something I look forward to and am excited for him. By the look on his face, I think she probably said yes. LOL!

ALS Clinic Visit

Every three months I go to Hershey to the ALS Clinic. The purpose of these visits is to assess my condition and make suggestions to help me maintain quality of life. I meet with the clinic nurse, the neurologist, occupational and physical therapist, pastoral counselor, social worker, licensed professional counselor, and research coordinator, The MDA representative.
I lost some weight, lost a little more strength in my arms and hands but my breathing went from 85% last visit to 93% this visit. That is good news because that means the muscles used for breathing are not getting weaker. All in all it was a fairly positive visit. Due to the increased weakness in my hands the OP suggested looking into voice activated typing software. I'm also getting these fuzzy looking boots to wear to bed to relieve the pressure on my heels when I sleep.
They should keep my feet nice and warm this winter. My feet are always cold due to poor circulation.
We are also looking to replace our current shower with one that has no step in the front so I can wheel right into the shower with a shower chair. It is so hard for me to step up into the shower the way it is now.
Thank you all for your continued support and prayers.

Random Thoughts

The last several days my thoughts have been with Carl and the family. For those of you that don't know Carl he is a friend of mine who had a motorcycle accident that left his legs all busted up. I'm praying for a complete recovery for Carl and peace and strength for the family. Thank God for giving us doctors that have the knowledge and skill to do what is necessary to help our bodies heal.

Sometimes I struggle to make sense of it all. Why does God allow these types of things happen to us?

I firmly believe that God could heal me in an instance but then I think, what makes me more special to God than the millions of other people that need healing. Like the children in Africa stricken with aids and starvation. God loves us all right? In the Bible, Peter tells us not to be surprised at the trials that come upon you, but rejoice as you share Christ's sufferings so that we may rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. To be quite honest, I find it hard to rejoice in my suffering, but I'm trying.

I'm looking forward to tonight when some of my friends come and we hang out at a restaurant and have fun. I'm thankful I can still get out some.

2008 ALS Walk

Patients like me profile

Reason for Blog

I thought about doing this for some time but kept putting it off. I will attempt to keep everyone informed as to how I'm doing, what some of my needs are, share my feelings, and how you can pray for me. Your support is greatly appreciated and helpful for me as well.
Gordie

My Diagnosis

I was diagnosed with ALS in April of 2006.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive wasting away of certain nerve cells of the brain and spinal column called motor neurons. The motor neurons control the voluntary muscles, which are the muscles that allow movement. ALS is a progressive, disabling, usually fatal disease. Walking, speaking, eating, swallowing, breathing, and other basic functions become more difficult with time. . In most cases it does not affect intellect, memory or the senses..The life expectancy of an ALS patient averages only two to five years after diagnosis. There is no known cause, prevention or cure for ALS at this time. In the United States and most other parts of the world, 1 to 2 people per 100,000 develop ALS each year.

It was sometime in the summer of 2004 when I was walking my dog that I noticed my left foot would slap the ground as I walked. it wasn't long after that I began experiencing foot drop and tripping alot and started having balance problems. Dec. 2004 after seeing an orthopedic doctor because of hip pain, I had x-rays taken and everthing was normal. He did some reflex testing and told me they were abnormal and suggested I see a neurologist. After 3 months I was able to see a neurologist. He did a complete examination and ordered all kinds of tests. MRI, blood work, lumbar puncture, and a EMG. His original suspicion was that I had MS. None of the test results proved anything conclusive. Then he ordered a CT scan and mylogram which came back negative. He just labeled it as idiopathic spastic paraplegia. He suggested waiting six months and redo some of the tests or I could get a second opinon. I opted for the second opinion. August 2005 I got an appointment at Hershey Medical Center with a neurologist specializing in ALS. He ordered some more tests and did an extensive EMG which basically revealed the same thing, spastic parplegia. There wasn't sufficiant evidence at that time to prove it was ALS. To make a definite diagnosis for ALS, you need to have both upper and lower motor nueron disease. He said I should come back in three months to see what changes I had or if I continued to progress. After six months of montoring my progression, he did another extensive EMG. The test results were convincing enough to rule it as ALS. April 6, 2006 I had a diagnosis ALS.
Even though I suspected that I had ALS because of all the research I did on the internet, hearing it from the doctor was devastating. Needless to say the trip home from Hershey was an emotional one. We cried, we wondered what do we do now, to silence. I knew from that moment on our lives were about to change forever. I had to leave my job because I struggled to do even the simplest of tasks. Within a year I went from using a cane, then a walker, to a power wheelchair. To date I cannot walk, go up stairs, need help with bathing and dressing.
This disease will eventually take away my ability to do many of the activities of daily living we all take for granted. Despite the devastating nature of this disease, I will not lose my faith in God. I refuse to let ALS cause me to become an angry or bitter person. I will use faith, hope, courage, love, and laughter, to help me make it through each day. I know he will provide me with the strength and courage to take me though each day.