Taking his swings against ALS
Mountainboro man was diagnosed with disease in November
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
By YVONNE BETOWT
Times Staff Writer, yvonne.betowt@htimes.com
MOUNTAINBORO - As a teenager, Welton Childers recalls reading the life story of baseball great Lou Gehrig, who died in 1941 from the disease to which his name would forever be linked - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

"I thought I knew a little about it (ALS)," said Welton. "But no one knows what it's like until you get it or have to help someone who has it."

Welton, 65, learned last November he has the disease.

He had known something was wrong for a couple of years. He had weakness in his arms and legs and then had a flu-like virus. He began stumbling and falling for no apparent reason.

A doctor in Albertville suspected ALS and sent him to Birmingham where it was confirmed.

Welton's wife, Linda, said the family had little knowledge of the disease nor knew anyone with it before Welton's diagnosis.

"We've learned a lot," she said.

An avid sports fan

Welton Childers is an avid sports fan, and especially enjoys watching Atlanta Braves baseball and Alabama football games on his big-screen television.

He would love to attend the Huntsville Stars game Thursday night that has been designated "Strike Out Against ALS" night.

He said he plans to be there "in spirit" because he doesn't have a handicapped-accessible van to transport him, and he is not physically able to attend.

"This was me standing there a year ago," said Welton, pointing to a year-old photo taken with relatives at Decoration Day at Concord Church in Douglas where he was born. "I knew there was something wrong with me then, but I just didn't know what."

Since then, his health has declined rapidly and he is using a wheelchair, provided by the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Huntsville. ALS is one of the muscular diseases that falls under the MDA umbrella. He no longer sleeps in a bed because it's too difficult to breathe.



Linda hooks him up to a remote-controlled lift that moves him from the wheelchair to the recliner where he sleeps or watches television.

On warm spring days, Welton and Linda used to sit side-by-side in the porch swing at their Sand Mountain home. But on this clear, blue-sky day, he sat in a wheelchair, and she was beside him in a straight-back chair.

Hits too close to home

For many years, Welton said his son, Steve, saved his change and donated it to Jerry Lewis' MD telethons, "never dreaming in a million years" he would be personally affected by the disease.

Steve's contributions continued when he built at ramp their house where they have lived most of their 44 years of marriage. They met at a Marshall County hospital while visiting sick relatives.

Steve is just one of the many family members who help. The Childers' niece and her husband, Joni and Jason Brothers, live next door. Jimmy Bishop, a brother-in-law who lives nearby, also lends a hand.

The Childers have two daughters - Sheila Underwood of Boaz and Donna Frachiseur of Albertville. They have four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

"This place is full of relatives," said Linda, waving her hand in the direction of several houses within a block or so of each other. "They've all been so good to help us, especially Jason, and so has my church (Calvary Baptist in Boaz), and my pastor (Shannon Pullen). We couldn't do without them all."

Welton was raised on a farm in Douglas where he "picked cotton and worked hard." After graduation from Douglas High School, he joined the National Guard. He worked for Western Electric in Kentucky for a brief time before returning to Alabama.

He was in the air conditioning and heating business most of his adult life. He ran his own business from 1979 to 1997.

An avid angler, Welton said he misses being able to fish. When he could no longer move himself from the bed to the wheelchair, MDA loaned him the lift which has been a godsend for Linda.

"It has been wonderful," she said. "Everyone at the MDA has been so good to us. God has really blessed us. I couldn't have made it without my faith."

Welton knows he will probably not be around for many more birthdays or Christmases because the average life expectancy for ALS patients is between one and three years. But he's not concerned.

"I have no problem when the time comes," said Welton. "But I'm not in any hurry."



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