[BobbyB]

Elkhorn Family Faces Challenging Diagnosis Together

POSTED: 8:10 pm CST January 23, 2008
UPDATED: 9:41 pm CST January 23, 2008


OMAHA, Neb. -- For 20 years, Sharon Freeman ran a day care center in her Elkhorn home, raising a generation of other people's children. Now, the people in Freeman's life are taking care of her.

The 53-year-old is fighting a two-year battle with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Her daughter, Missy Heyden, said her mom used to be the most energetic person she knew, never resting for long, even on nights the family would watch a movie at home.



"She would get up every few minutes to do something: change the laundry, clean the house, bake something. She was the most active one in our family for sure," said Heyden.

Heyden quit her job as a nursing assistant to care for her mom while Freeman's husband is working.

Two years into the diagnosis, Freeman can't stand on her own, speak clearly or take care of herself.

"I can still eat and drink," Sharon said.

She also keeps her hands active, sewing patches on uniform shirts for a local cleaning company.

Her husband, Rob, serves as a patient, gentle interpreter for his wife of 35 years, kindly guiding visitors through conversations with Freeman. They're a source of strength for each other, both knowing that Sharon's decline will eventually lead to her death.

"Every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with the disease. Every 90 minutes, someone loses their battle with it," Rob said.

ALS is a degenerative neuromuscular disease that affects more than 30,000 people nationwide. It commonly strikes people between 40 and 60 years of age, affecting movement and eventually breathing. There is no cure.

"It's horrible. Probably the worst thing I could have imagined because we're such a close family and she was kind of our rock," Heyden said.

Adding to the fear and frustration is the fact that Freeman's father died of Lou Gehrig's disease, living just 18 months after his diagnosis.

ALS is inherited in 5 to 10 percent of all cases, according to the nonprofit group ALS in the Heartland.

Freeman's daughter, Brandi, is expecting her first child. Her daughter Missy has a 5-year-old son named Trevor.

"I think about Trevor and wonder if he's going to have to take care of me like I am my mom," said Missy.

The family plans to do genetic testing to see whether Freeman's children are at a higher risk of contracting the disease.

Freeman's daughters admire their mother's drive and positive attitude.

"We would always lean on her and now she's leaning on us," Heyden said.

The Freemans are also relying on a local support group for help.

ALS in the Heartland offered the family information and guidance, assistance with home medical equipment, and respite care support.

"When you go through an ALS diagnosis and lose someone you love so much, you realize appreciate the people there to help you and support you," said Missy Zadina, vice president of ALS in the Heartland.

Zadina lost her mother, Sandy Howard, to the disease in 2006.

Zadina worked with a friend to dream up a fundraiser to help support local ALS patients, and they came up with the idea of a bachelor, bachelorette auction.

The local fundraiser is Friday, Jan. 25, at Prestige World Class, 810 S. 169 St. Local singles and their unique date packages will be auctioned off to benefit heartland ALS patients.

For ticket information call 614-2399 or go to www.ALSintheHEARTLAND.org.

http://www.ketv.com/news/15123948/detail.html

[BobbyB]

Here is the link to her very nice video supporting ALS fundraiser.

www.ketv.com/video/15127144/index.html?taf=oma