ALS patients, families join to battle incurable disease

By Melissa Gagliardi
mgagliardi@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal



Every day for three months seven years ago, Bob Houston visited his new triplet grandchildren in intensive care at Kosair Children's Hospital.

"He was always there," said his daughter, Karen Brooks of Leitchfield. "He was the best Pa Pa."



But shortly after the triplets' first birthday, Houston got bad news. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He fought it for almost four years but died July 3, 2005. He was 68.

Yesterday afternoon, his wife, Barbara; their five daughters, including Brooks, who is nine months' pregnant; and his 13 grandchildren donned T-shirts bearing the words "Bob's Buds." They joined about 600 other people at the corporate headquarters of Papa John's Pizza in Jeffersontown for the third annual "Walk to D'Feet ALS." The event raised $35,000 yesterday, with more donations coming in.

Barbara Houston recalled the day -- July 27, 2001 -- that the family was told her husband was sick.

"Everything was taken away from us," she said. "It was a death sentence."

ALS is an always-fatal neuromuscular disease. It eventually makes it impossible for its victims to speak or swallow.

But Barbara Houston maintains that she and her husband were lucky. He had already retired and they had had some time to travel together, including an Alaskan cruise. She said she feels sorry for people who are diagnosed in the prime of their lives, with young children they will leave behind.

If her husband could have been alive to see the crowd that walked in his name yesterday, it would have made him very happy, she said.

"I think Bob would be extremely proud," she said. "He was so proud of his family anyway."

Their daughter Connie Jurige, an employee of Papa John's, is president of the Kentucky ALS Association. She said the walk is the association's principal event, and much of the money it raises goes directly to patients by paying for electronic speech devices, walkers, wheelchairs and side rails for beds. Part of the money also goes to the National ALS Association for research.

Roy Basham of Fern Creek took part in yesterday's walk, though he was pushed in a wheelchair by his son Mike. The elder Basham was diagnosed with ALS a year ago, and about 40 friends and family joined him in support.

During his career as a developer, Basham, 82, built the Cub Run Water View subdivision at Nolin Lake. A number of friends who remember him from their days enjoying lake life together came to the walk.

"They're real good friends," he said, getting choked up.

His wife, Betty, recalled the days when her husband was a picture of health. He was never sick, never needed surgery, never even took aspirin.

Now, she can see the effects the disease is having. He can still walk but is losing strength.

"You find a way to deal with it," she said. "We take one day at a time."

Reporter Melissa Gagliardi can be reached at (502) 582-4117.

Yesterday's "Walk to D'Feet ALS" drew, from left, Andrew Leister, Grace Childress, Morgan Duncan, Kennedy Childress and Brennan Childress. The Childresses, 7, are triplets and the cousins of Duncan, who is dating Leister. The group walked in honor of ALS victim Bob Houston, who died last year. (By Melissa Gagliardi, The Courier-Journal)








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