Felida man takes on challenge of ALS

Wednesday, August 27, 2008
By SCOTT HEWITT, Columbian Staff Writer

As they planned their first Vancouver “Walk to Defeat ALS,” organizers figured on not getting too ambitious.

“It’s the first time we’ve done this in Southwest Washington, so we thought we’d keep our goal low,” said Aubrey Mercer, development director for the Oregon and Southwest Washington Chapter of the ALS Association. “We made the goal $5,000.”

But that hurdle has already been jumped and left behind by Toby Candilora, a Felida resident and corporal with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Candilora, 34, is working miracles as he raises money to fight amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — and accepts the challenge of his own diagnosis.

It was about 1½ years ago that Candilora — who’d already noticed that he was “slowing down,” he said — underwent surgery on an injured right knee. During surgery, the left knee started twitching. He was told to go get it examined.

“I thought, ‘Yeah, right,’ ” he said.

But after the left leg continued to act up, he went to a neurologist and received the shock of his life: he had ALS — what’s commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

“I walked out of there pretty numb,” he said. “But here’s how I look at it: We’re all dying. Everybody is dying. There’s nothing new about that. They say I have a disease, but I call it a challenge. I’m not going to give up or surrender to ALS. I have faith in God and I believe I’m going to be a miracle and beat this disease.”

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive, degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. In later stages, it can lead to paralysis as the brain’s ability to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. Most victims die of respiratory failure within a few years. There is no cure.

According to the ALS Association, there are roughly 500 people living with ALS in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area at any time.

“There’s a very wide range of courses of ALS,” said Lance Christian, services director for the association. “Sometimes it’s short, but others have lived for decades with ALS. People can live a good life with ALS. It may be a change of life, but people can still set and achieve their goals.”

Attitude is everything when living with ALS, he said.

“There’s no right or wrong way to live with or manage ALS,” said Christian. “Some let nature take its course, others do an extensive amount to manage their symptoms and live life. Toby’s outlook and the way he’s being proactive with management of symptoms will make a huge difference.”

Christian said the ALS association is there to provide support in whatever way it can. It provides services including equipment loans and wheelchairs, family mentorship and support, respite care, advocacy and funding for the ALS Center at Providence Hospital. It also funds scientific research.

“There’s a tremendous amount of research into ALS occurring around the world, more than ever before,” he said. “That’s one reason why there’s hope.”

The ALS walk is set for Sunday, Sept. 7, at Esther Short Park. Registration begins at 11 a.m. and the three-mile walk itself gets under way at noon. To learn more about the walk, ALS and Candilora, visit web.alsa.org/goto/TobyCandilora.

As of Tuesday, Candilora — who is married to April and has two children, 9-year-old Taylore and 7-year-old Samantha — had raised $10,347.

“It’s amazing to me,” he said. “I cannot express how blessed and thankful I am. I don’t even know some of the people who’ve responded to my e-mails. There are people who are far worse off than I am.”

SCOTT HEWITT can be reached at 360-735-4529 or scott.hewitt@columbian.com.



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