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Man fights disease -- with a little help from his friends
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September 25, 2008

By DIANA NEWTON dnewton@pioneerlocal.com
Joe Boyle often stops to chat, scratch a dog's ears or simply smile as he passes someone on his daily two-hour walk around Deerpath Park in Vernon Hills. He is such a regular sight that many in the neighborhood refer to him as "Joe the Walker" or the guy with the big grin.

People started to notice when Boyle became thinner. Soon, he told them why: He had Lou Gehrig's Disease.

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Friends of Joe Boyle, who is seated in front in a yellow plaid shirt, gather at Deerpath Park to dedicate a bench and plaque in his honor. Boyle - who is suffering from Lou Gehrig's Disease - walks the park daily.


Now, Boyle's informal network of friends -- who call themselves the Joe Boyle Fan Club -- have rallied to help him. Though Boyle isn't one to ask for or accept much help, his friends said, he doesn't have a choice now. They insist.

On Saturday, about 27 people gathered with Boyle to dedicate a park bench and plaque in Boyle's honor at Deerpath Park, an effort led by John Wesley. Wesley is a runner who is just one of many to have encountered Boyle on his walk. The group wanted to honor their friendship with Boyle and get to know one another, Wesley said.

"He walks every day and usually for two hours a day," Wesley said. "We passed each other and one day I stopped and introduced myself. He's very gregarious and loves to talk to people. I was quite impressed with how many people knew Joe. He has quite an extensive group of friends."

Wesley sent a letter asking people to contribute to the bench, and they came through with nearly $1,000. But that's not all. Many people are making friendly visits or helping with other tasks. Boyle's sister comes in regularly from Minnesota to help her brother.

Everyone helps
"Now that people know Joe has Lou Gehrig's Disease, they are doing all they can to help," Wesley said. "The mailman brings his mail in the front door and checks on him. The guy behind him cuts his grass. Three women and their husbands have a little group to go over at 5 p.m. to help him mix his evening meal. He has a routine where he puts fruits and vegetables into a blender."

Boyle can still walk, but he has lost upper-body strength, so fixing meals or dressing can be a challenge. Lisa Warner stops by to visit or help prepare nutritional shakes in the evening. Lou Gehrig's Disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is an incurable fatal neuromuscular disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness, resulting in paralysis.

"I'm so proud of Vernon Hills," Warner said. "People just care. It takes a village, not just to raise kids, but to take care of those who need a little extra help. I think Vernon Hills is a great town with great people who have really big hearts. You don't want to see somebody suffer alone. You want to try to do whatever you can to help somebody. It reminds you that Vernon Hills still has old-time, small-town values."

Even the mayor knows Boyle. Mayor Roger Byrne, who lives near him, is always asking about him, Warner said. She recalled being at a picnic once and Boyle walked by. Everyone said, "There's Joe!" Warner was stunned so many knew him.

Boyle, 68, is a lifelong bachelor, and he's always been very fit, Wesley said. Boyle has been seen rollerblading, too. When Warner heard about the bench, she thought it was the perfect idea.

"What a lovely thought because boy oh boy, that's where you see Joe, in the park," she said. "It's the nicest idea, truly."

Wesley, a retired pediatric surgeon, said Boyle had been to several doctors and gotten conflicting advice. Wesley referred Boyle to physicians who diagnosed Lou Gehrig's Disease. Wesley is helping Boyle manage this new medical terrain. The disease process is different for every patient, Wesley said.

"This is now about managing the process and fine-tuning," Wesley said.

In turn, Boyle, a retired art teacher from Prospect High School, has been giving art lessons to Wesley.

Linda Brown, a Vernon Hills resident, taught with Boyle at Prospect. She taught math. They are both retired.

"He is just really genuine," Brown said, in explaining his appeal to so many. "His devotion to students at school was just outstanding. He was up 4 in the morning and on the road at 5, setting up for his art classes. If you ran into him at lunchtime, he was very easy, comfortable to talk to."

"He's a force of nature," Warner said.

Although Boyle has become weaker because of the disease, his indomitable spirit is not diminished.

"You can go down fighting or go down without a fight," Warner said. "He's giving it everything he's got."

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http://www.pioneerlocal.com/vernonhi...508-s1.article