Gazette reporter Arnold Lim and West Shore residents Heather MacFayden and Andy Harward are among 12 riders on the Cycle of Hope ride for ALS from Kamloops to Keremeos, which is scheduled to wind up today. Lim is blogging about his experience on the ride.
Karen McGinnB次元官网网址檚 speech is almost a whisper.
Amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has already claimed much of the Kelowna womanB次元官网网址檚 speech, the strength in her hands and the ability to walk on her own. The mother of three young children said she knows it wonB次元官网网址檛 be much longer before the disease finally claims her.
B次元官网网址淚t is so hard because the disease, it takes so much,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 wish it would take my mind, because that is the hard part, going through each day, knowing what is coming.B次元官网网址�
The formerly active bike rider, wakeboarder, skier and boater can longer do many of the things she loves. Now she sits and watches her family do the things she once did, waiting for this deadly motor-neuron disease that affects 2,500 to 3,000 Canadians every year to run its course.
B次元官网网址淥ne of the big things is losing your independence. I gave up my drivers license a year ago and that was tough,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淕etting around in the house, showering, all that stuff B次元官网网址� everything is getting harder. I am only 42.B次元官网网址�
The rapid progression has taken a toll on her family as well, including eight-year-old daughter Kaitlyn, six-year-old twins Emily and Tyson and her husband, Lance, who collapsed to the floor when the neurologist first delivered the news that would change their lives forever.
B次元官网网址淚 wouldnB次元官网网址檛 wish this on anybody. It was a blow, a serious blow,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e left the hospital and sat on the bench and we just cried. Anybody in our shoes would do the same thing. It was very, very scary. I kind of knew, but when it is confirmed, itB次元官网网址檚 very hard. You worry about your kids and worry about whatB次元官网网址檚 ahead.B次元官网网址�
Lance said he would take the disease on himself if it would cure his wife. He canB次元官网网址檛, so instead he rides, purchasing a bike to join family friend Corinne Boback on the ALS Cycle of Hope Kelowna community rides (Aug.10), raising money for research to battle the incurable disease.
B次元官网网址淚 am riding to bring awareness so that maybe someday people wonB次元官网网址檛 have to go through what we are going through. But selfishly, I am riding it for Karen, because she canB次元官网网址檛 and she will never be able to,B次元官网网址� he said between tears. B次元官网网址淢aybe someday, hopefully there will be a cure or something so they donB次元官网网址檛 have to go through what we are going through.B次元官网网址�
Karen will be there to cheer her husband make his first ride on the bike, spending as much time with her family as she can before what she called the inevitable.
B次元官网网址淵ou know, you get married and you think youB次元官网网址檒l spend your time together, raise your kids, retire and travelB次元官网网址� To know that is not going to happen is hard,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important to make memories (now) because I donB次元官网网址檛 know how long I have. That way (my family and friends) have something to remember.B次元官网网址�
Find out more about the ride and read other blogs by Arnold Lim at .
alim@vicnews.com
