[BobbyB]

Brig. Gen. Raises Awareness For Lou Gehrig's Disease
Fri February 01, 2008
- Charleston, SC

A brigadier general continues to raise awareness for Lou Gehrig's Disease. Tom Mikolajcik was diagnosed with ALS four years ago, and now the general is taking steps to ensure his voice will be heard for as long as possible. "I've lived for four and a half years. They said I'd be dead in one to three years. God is just letting me speak for as long as I can," Brig. General Mikolajcik said.

He's not exactly wired for sound, but he is hooked up to a diaphragm pacesetter stimulator.
The device was implanted two weeks ago. The general is now a case study for those affected by this disease.

"They are starting to test ALS patients. Most die because they can't breathe and they choke to death," he explained.

Another step in helping those who slowly can't help themselves.

In four years, the general has helped set up the first support group, an ALS clinic in South Carolina.

Mikolacjecks' mission pays dividends today as he comes face to face with Bernie Martinelli. The Mt. Pleasant man who moved to town a year and a half ago was diagnosed with ALS one month ago, his trip to the clinic was his first.

"If we have to be inflicted, then there's no better place than here," Martinelli said. "The care I've gotten is the greatest care."

And for helping those like Martinelli, the Brig. General remains humble.

"All I know is that I believe, and so does Carmine, that god let me keep my voice to help other people and that's what I'm trying to do," Mikolajcik said.

http://www.wciv.com/news/stories/0208/492868.html