My name is Paula and I have ALS. At first when I was diagnosed I would look back at all of the things I have done and those that I haven't done that I wanted to do. I've stopped looking back at what I did do and started concentrating on what I could do now, not thinking of the future. I wrote a list of things I want to do and have started working the list realizing some things are not impossible for me to do.
In the short time that I have been diagnosed my husband and I went on a cruise with my siblings and their spouses. We went on a week's vacation with our kids. I managed to have a surprise birthday party for my husband. I go out to lunch and dinners with friends. I spend more time with friends that I have in the past.
I have also learned to live one day at a time (most of the time) and appreciate everything God gives me. I am a better listener and more interested in the simple things. I spend more time with my children. All three are out of the house, so we don't see each other everyday. My husband and I spend time watching sports together, something I seldom did in the past.
I thank God for every morning that I wake up and my first thought of the day is not ALS. I have found that it is possible not to dwell on the past or what's in my future. In one respect I wish I would have learned to live this way before ALS. I accomplish a lot more now that I did in the past, because I've cut out things that are no longer important to me such as shopping or keeping the house perfect. My time is now quality time. I try not to waste a minute. I still work a few days a week to stay connected and when people ask me when I am quitting, I just say "not today".
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Paula is 56 years old and married with three children in their twenties. She was diagnosed on March 16, 2010, but believes she has had the disease for 2 years. She is still working.
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