Re: Unfortunate event -

I really wish I could hug you. I really do. Please, please don't put your energy into blaming yourself. You have a finite amount of energy each day, and I hope you can spend it with family and friends for as long as you have joy. Support groups are amazingly important. And, no, I don't think you are a "black sheep." I didn't realize you are in Australia... have you heard of a person here in the US called Dr. Kevorkian? The reason I ask is that when my Mom was diagnosed and getting more ill, she talked about contacting him. He was actually arrested for assisting suicide with an ALS patient. (This would have been over 10 years ago.) Anyway, I for one would understand you wanting to end your life on your terms. It seems as a society we are often more understanding and kind to our pets than our suffering family members. Having said that, I cannot imgaine, cannot fathom how you feel with your diagnosis and at your age. I hope you have a good solid support system. If you are intersted, and open to it, I recently saw a documentary about a man in Boston who was diagnosed at 29 (I think). His family started both a documentary and a research foundation to start multiple research ideas about ALS. Meanwhile, his family helped devise simple living things (like special way to mount a computer mouse to his wheelchair so he could continue to play video games with his brothers.) I can see if I can get ahold of this if you think any of it might give you some hope that there could still be some positive left for you. On a very personal note, my Mom and I had a horrible relationship. The sad fact is, had she not gotten ALS, and had I not moved home to help, I would never have any fond memories of her. We never resolved anything. But we spent time together that was important. I hope somehow, someway you can find joy and peace with your loved ones at least for a moment here or there. You can email me anytime if I can offer a word of encouragement. flowerdogsmom@yahoo.com You can also vent. It's OK. I agree that your diagnosis isn't fair. It's just not. Again, I'm sending a hug from Wisconsin. Katherine