Lucky to know them
July 4th is best known for being Independence Day in the United States… but it also marks the anniversary of one of the most moving speeches in history. On July 4th, 1939, Lou Gehrig told the world "Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth" as he bade farewell to the Yankees and his fans after being diagnosed with ALS…a disease that has also become known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

News last week that former CFLer Tony Proudfoot has been diagnosed with the same disease hit close to home for me. I have never met Proudfoot who works as a radio analyst for the Montreal Allouettes; however, two years ago I did a story on ALS for the anniversary of Gehrig's incredible streak of 2,130 consecutive games coming to an end because of the disease. During my work on the piece, I got to know Elizabeth Grandbois and William Weir - two amazing people who were battling ALS. Their stories affected me like no other I had ever worked on.

In my interview with Elizabeth I was literally brought to tears as she recounted the story of having to tell her children she had ALS. I watched as William's two-year-old son crawled onto his lap to give his dad a kiss. William unable to reciprocate his young son's physical affection because he no longer had mobility from the neck down. This is what happens to someone with ALS. You become paralyzed in your legs, your arms, you eventually have trouble swallowing and then breathing...all the while your brain remains alert and unaffected. Elizabeth described it best when she said it's like being trapped in a coffin. The coffin being your own body.

Despite the crippling affects of ALS, Elizabeth continues to be very active fund-raising and bringing awareness to this horrible disease. She is truly inspirational and is soon to be inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame. Her diagnosis coming 10 years ago, Elizabeth is a living miracle considering the life expectancy for those diagnosed with the disease is normally 2-5 years.

William was not as lucky. I received an email just last week informing me that he died in May.

On this the anniversary of Gehrig's famous speech…my thoughts are with Tony Proudfoot. May he be like Elizabeth defying the odds and be one of the lucky ones who battles this disease for years to come.

For more on the disease click here.


11:30 PM | Permanent link | Comments (5)
Comments
Great read Martine. This disease is horrible from what I've read and heard. I watched a news story last night on Lou Gehrig and Tony Proudfoot and it basically brought tears to my eyes. It's a shame. My thoughts and prayers are with all involved and I do plan to learn more about this awful disease and donate something for research and education.

Posted by: EarlGrey | 8:51 AM, Thursday July 5, 2007
Good for you Martine!

ALS, in my opinion, is the worst disease in existence. In that same breathe, it is also one of the least known. People don't know the average life expectancy is 2-5 years for limb-onset (Bulbar ALS, which starts in your throat, has a life expectancy of SIX months). People don't know the frustration of slowly being buried alive in your own body. My grandfather had ALS and died when I was a kid, and I had the opportunity to work for the ALS Society last summer. The more people like you, people who have the opportunity to send messages and be recognized by lots of people, who get involved, the better things will be for those living, and dying, with this horrible disease.

Posted by: sports king | 9:05 AM, Thursday July 5, 2007
That was one of the best blogs I've ever read. I had a chance to meet Tony Proudfoot five years ago at the 25th anniversary of Montreal's 1977 Grey Cup win. He was one of the nicest, classiest gentlemen I had ever been in contact with and I consider myself lucky to have met him. No fan of Montreal football will ever forget the infamous "staplegun" game when Tony used his creativity to lead the Als to that lopsided Grey Cup win. If there is one person who doesn't deserve to have to deal with ALS, it's Tony but we can all prey that his fighting spirit will lead him to a similar fate as Elizabeth's.

Posted by: ih8leaffans | 2:26 PM, Thursday July 5, 2007
One of the best blogs i have read yet. This has literally brought tears to my eyes. My heart goes to William Weir's family and i wish the best of luck to Elizabeth Grandbois and Tony Proudfoot.

Posted by: McCabe24TML | 3:33 PM, Thursday July 5, 2007
This blog gave me chills Martine. Great Job! I lost my father to ALS on New Years Day of this year. He was only 51 years old, and had battled with this disease for nearly five years. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Proudfoot and I wish him and his family all the strength and courage to go through what they are about to go through. Smile big smiles..laugh...and cry!

What would you do while you still could?

Posted by: whonew | 7:06 PM, Thursday July 5, 2007
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