Gratitude keeps woman with ALS going



STAYING ACTIVE: Hortensia Gonzales of Hemet has lost the use of her arms to Lou Gehrig’s disease, but she is determined to stay active as long as possible. She is the Inland Empire goodwill ambassador for the Muscular Dytrophy Association’s ALS division.
MONICA REICHL / The Valley Chronicle
HEMET: Hortensia Gonzales to appear on Jerry Lewis telethon.

By MONICA REICHL/The Valley Chronicle

Hortensia Gonzales, 69, is a busy woman. Last month, the Hemet resident and her husband of 51 years, Gilbert, traveled to San Francisco. They have also traveled to New York, Canada, and Europe. And, this weekend, she will be on television.

Why such drive to get out and about?

“There's going to come a day when I can't. I might as well take advantage of it,” said Hortensia, who was diagnosed in 2003 with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

ALS is a neurological disease that causes progressive paralysis. It destroys motor neurons and the body's muscles eventually waste away.


“It's a deterioration of all the muscles. Sometimes it starts in the legs, sometimes in the vocal chords,” she said.

According to Hortensia, the symptoms began in her right arm. Tasks such as using her curling iron or plucking her eyebrows became impossible. Then the disease moved into her left arm.

While Hortensia can no longer use her arms, she remains grateful in the face of her debilitating disease.

“I'm very fortunate. I can still speak. I can still eat,” she said.

“Eat too much,” she added with a chuckle.

Michelle Davila has worked as Hortensia's caregiver for the past two years. Davila dresses Hortensia, feeds her, helps her stand and sit, and assists with almost all of the functions of daily living.

She said she is impressed with Hortensia's attitude.

“She's so happy. Sometimes she's happier than I am,” Davila said.

“That's what's awesome about taking care of her,” Davila added. “She's so grateful - even for a bite of food.”

Davila said that working as Hortensia's caregiver is not work at all, but fun. Sometimes she said, the two of them will just talk and that Hortensia often gives her advice.

“It's not like work. She's like a mom,” Davila said.

Determined to be active as long as she can be, Hortensia serves as the good will ambassador for the Inland Empire of the Muscular Dystrophy Association's ALS division. And between 2 and 3 p.m. Sept. 4, Hortensia will be interviewed on the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon on KCAL 9 out of Los Angeles. A family panel will feature husband Gilbert in that same time frame.

“If I can raise money and researchers find a cure, that will be my purpose in life,” Hortensia said.

She added that not only is there no cure for the disease, the cause is also unknown.

Davila said Hortensia has a way of affecting people positively.

“People just rally around her. She's a people magnet,” she said.

It is this reason, Davila said, that Hortensia has a steady supply of telephone calls, visitors, and people pitching in to help her.

Hortensia said she used to be active in lawn bowling and has several friends from Hemet West, where she and Gilbert used to live, who visit her and check in on her.

“I have my down days,” Hortensia admitted. “Right away, I snap out of it. I've got too many wonderful things in my life.”

Hortensia credited her positive outlook and her ability to be grateful for every day she has to her family and friends.

“I guess it's my faith first, and the fact that I have such a wonderful family (and) support.”

She said she hopes family and friends will donate during the telethon - that they will, in fact, donate whatever they can.

“Anything is appreciated,” Hortensia said.

She also added that she hopes other people with ALS can remain positive “and look forward to each day and be thankful for each day.”

The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon will run from Sunday to Monday. For information about the telethon or how to donate, visit www.mdausa.org.