General's brave ALS persistence
Sunday, October 21, 2007



Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis kills. However, most victims of that relentless neuro-degenerative disease seem to share a special knack of waging a brave fight before succumbing. They are following the sterling example of the New York Yankees' "Iron Horse," Lou Gehrig, who became the terrible affliction's namesake after dying of it in 1941, less than three weeks shy of his 38th birthday.

Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Tom Mikolajcik, a distinguished Charleston resident now fighting the disease, sustains that inspiring tradition.

Gen. Mikolajcik played a significant role in an encouraging advance in the battle Wednesday, when the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill, co-sponsored by 1st District Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C., to set up a national ALS database giving scientists and patients critical access to information. Diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease four years ago, the former Charleston Air Base commander told our reporter: "We're halfway there. Now I hope the Senate will follow suit. Hopefully, the House passage will force the issue."

The good news: More than 50 senators, including South Carolina's Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham, have already signed onto the Senate bill establishing that database. The sooner Congress passes the bill and President Bush signs it, the sooner scientists and ALS victims will have more of the weapons they need to defeat this cruel killer.

http://www.charleston.net/news/2007/...sistence19754/