Faith keeps smile on ALS victim's face
By Bob Burchette
Special to the Recorder


Amelia and George Shelton remain faithful even though she's been diagnosed with ALS.

GREENSBORO - Amelia Shelton's faith has been strong since growing up in Southside Baptist Church in Concord. Her biggest test came when she and husband George heard her illness diagnosed as ALS (alsamyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

She and George kept their composure in the doctor's office. Once outside, they held each other and cried. "There is no way to describe it; even 'devastation' is not a strong enough word," she said.

"Especially, when they tell you there is no cure for it," said George.

Denial was her next thought: "There is no way I can have this disease. Things like that don't happen to you; it happens to other people."

That was in March 2006, and since then Amelia Shelton has outgrown her denial and learned how to get the most out of each day of her life. She also wants to educate people about the disease.

"It's really important for people to know about it. People don't know ALS but they know when you say Lou Gehrig's disease," she said. It is a motor neuron disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, damaging both upper and lower motor neurons.

Amelia Shelton's faith, and strong support from her family, friends, Sunday School class and the state ALS chapter have given her life new prospective, she said. Not only does she want to share her faith, she wants to tell the story about Lou Gehrig's disease to help people better understand how to cope with the disease. Encouragement is needed for the victim of the disease and also for family members, and others who can assist family and the person with ALS, she said.

Peace can be found even knowing the predicted outcome for ALS victims, she said.

"I'm happy now," she said, even knowing that the lifespan typically is three to five years after being diagnosed. Amelia and George Shelton have a higher hope - their faith. "I know God can change things," Said Amelia, now 56.

"So many great things have come out of this," Amelia said, sitting in her wheelchair in the backyard of her home. There she enjoys pretty flowers, and the pleasant, sunny day and the quietness of the haven she and George share.

And she loves to talk about her lovely daughter Ashley, 26, who recently has moved back home.

"It (illness) has drawn me closer to God because I didn't have anywhere else to go. My family couldn't get me out of the dark place I was in. Finally, I said, 'Lord, take me and do something with me.' And has He ever!"

Amelia has become an inspiration to others. She recently was featured in a film that encourages people to become involved in Family Care Connection, which gives support to ALS patients. A film crew came from Los Angeles to record Amelia's upbeat, encouraging words about helping others. The video details the program for people with ALS and their families.

She refuses to put herself in the underdog category. "We haven't let it (the disease) slow us down a bit," she said. "We've been on two cruises since I was diagnosed. I still love to go out to lunch and to go shopping."

She and George spend most of their time together. She met George, a native of Yanceyville, at Western Carolina University where both were students. They have been married for nearly 30 years, the same amount of time Amelia worked for Duke Energy before retiring in 2006. George was able to take early retirement as a state probation parole officer about the time Amelia was diagnosed with ALS.

"I know my time is short, I need to say the things I need to say, and do the things I need to do now," Amelia said. "I need to make the best of every day."

Amelia Shelton is not sitting idle, waiting for ALS to take its toll. She has shared her faith and things about her disease at her present church, Harvest Baptist in Burlington, and at her home church in Concord. "I would like to share with more churches if I could," she said.

"Even though things may seem grim, there's still hope. I've got hope," Amelia said.

(EDITOR'S NOTE - Bob Burchette is a retired editor/writer from the Greensboro News & Record.)

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