River of Hope: One Couple's Journey with Lou Gehrig's Disease


Posted: 6:00 PM Nov 28, 2008
Last Updated: 9:53 PM Nov 27, 2008
Reporter: Sarah Rasmussen
Email Address: sarah.rasmussen@weau.com




David Tank first wrote a book about his wife's struggle with Lou Gehrig’s, but realized many people with the disease wouldn't have the strength to hold the book, so that's when he decided to write a song about it.

"Kathy was probably the most energetic person you'll ever meet," Tank describes.

He says doctors diagnosed his wife, Kathy, with Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2006.

"Essentially they told her, go home and die," Tank says.

But the Tank's had a different perspective of the incurable disease -- they were going to fight it.

"They end up spending the rest of their life essentially dying. Kathy spent the rest of her life living.”

The Tanks researched the disease, found out what usually causes it and made some major life style changes.

"We switched to an entirely 100% all organic diet. We got rid of our metallic cooking pans. We switched to all glass cookware. We changed all of the soaps, the cleaners," Tank says.

And eventually, she started getting better.

"She started swallowing water again. She didn't swallow anything in more than a year," Tank says.

But just as she started to turn around, Kathy had an accident. She fell in the kitchen, hurting the muscles in her neck and back. Three weeks later., on November 14th, 2007, Kathy died from exhaustion.

"Which really seems to be unfair. After making progress against a disease like ALS and then to die of lack of sleep," Tank says.

But he decided to take a positive approach, and celebrate Kathy’s life and her efforts to survive.

"She had learned so much. She had tried so many things and was making progress. I decided I needed to tell people what was going on and maybe I could help someone else," Tank says.

CLICK HERE to watch the "Hope Is Like A River" Music Video

CLICK HERE for information about Tank's Book "River of Hope: My Journey With Kathy"




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