[BobbyB]

ALS patient's big game rained out
By Janet Begley
Friday, July 4, 2008


VERO BEACH — It's been 67 years since Yankee first baseman Lou Gehrig died from ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

And Ken Patterson of Titusville knows he's on borrowed time as an ALS patient himself.

Patterson was scheduled to throw out the first pitch at Wednesday night's Devil Rays game at Holman Stadium as part of the Florida Chapter of the ALS Association's "Lou Gehrig Night." The game was later canceled because of rain.

"We are always looking for the opportunity to spread the word," said Patterson. "Anything we can do to raise awareness is very important."

Devil Rays Co-General Manager Shawn Marette said the ALS Association is an official charity of Minor League Baseball.

"It's a great charity," said Marette, as he watched volunteers sell bracelets for $1 outside the front gates. "When the association first approached us about holding this event, we thought it would be a great way to support them."

Despite decades of research, the cure for the debilitating neurodegenerative disease named after Gehrig is no closer today when discovered in 1869; death after diagnosis happens within two to five years. It progressively paralyzes its victims, attacking nerve cells and pathways in the brain or spinal cord. Patients are robbed of the ability to walk, eat, speak and, eventually, breathe.

Patterson, an Army veteran and former firefighter, was diagnosed in November 2006, although he first started noticing problems with his wrist in 2005. He said he can't use his arms or fingers well. The disease also affects his speech, and his wife Glenda helps translate for him.

In May, Patterson drove his motorized wheelchair from Orlando to Washington D.C. to attend the National Advocacy conference and create awareness about the disease. He said while the trip was satisfying personally, people still don't know what ALS is. He hopes a bill to create a National ALS registry which tracks patients diagnosed with ALS will be introduced in Washington this summer by the Senate.

According to recent studies by the Veteran's Administration, Lou Gehrig's Disease is twice as common in veterans than the general population, particularly for veterans who served in the Persian Gulf. Evidence linking ALS to military service emerged when returning Gulf War veterans reported symptoms to the Veterans Administration. Still, the disease is considered rare, with only 2 cases per 100,000 reported nationally.

Florida ALS Association development director Joey Adkins said the disease is tough for people to deal with.

"The average life expectancy is just 2 to 5 years after diagnosis," said Adkins. "That's hard for people to accept. Their mind is still active; it's their body that gives out."

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