In the fall of 2012, after living with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) for six years, Neil Hemming and his family were hit with the knowledge that his condition had progressed to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

B次元官网网址淭he news (struck) us like a tonne of bricks,B次元官网网址� said Deana Larsson, HemmingB次元官网网址檚 daughter, as she teared up. B次元官网网址淭here just arenB次元官网网址檛 any words for how it felt, it was absolutely gut-wrenching.B次元官网网址�

ALS, or Lou GehrigB次元官网网址檚 disease as itB次元官网网址檚 also known in North America, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease. And although PLS and ALS are related, the former doesnB次元官网网址檛 always progress to the latter, explained Larsson. B次元官网网址淲e thought we were in the clear as it usually transitions within a few years if itB次元官网网址檚 going to at all.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淎LS can happen to anybody at any time,B次元官网网址� said Wendy Toyer, executive director of the . B次元官网网址淎nd thereB次元官网网址檚 no known cause or known cure.B次元官网网址�

Currently, thereB次元官网网址檚 anywhere up to 3,000 Canadians living with ALS, and about 400 of those reside within the province: however, each day two or three British Columbians succumb to the disease.

B次元官网网址淲ith ALS, motor neurons are killed and once the last motor neuron in a muscle is dead, youB次元官网网址檒l never get it back. It effects everyone differently, but (essentially) your voluntary muscles deteriorate until paralysis. For some, only eye movement remains but the (mind) is still totally fully functional.B次元官网网址�

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So when her fatherB次元官网网址檚 diagnoses came, Larsson, whoB次元官网网址檚 an elementary school teacher and mother to two young daughters, said she began looking for books for her three- and five-year-olds to help them understand what was happening to their grandfather.

B次元官网网址淭here were a few different things available, but almost every one of them had pictures of somebody in a hospital hooked up to tubes and wires, and this and that,B次元官网网址� continued Larsson.

B次元官网网址淵es, (ALS) is real, and I wasnB次元官网网址檛 trying to pretend it wasnB次元官网网址檛, I was just looking for a softer presentation that wasnB次元官网网址檛 so doom and gloom. I do know, obviously, that thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot about ALS that is doom and gloom, but thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot that isnB次元官网网址檛.

B次元官网网址淢y dad was still my dad inside, even though his body was failing him, and I wanted that to be the focus (for my children): itB次元官网网址檚 still Gramps, and no matter what happens, heB次元官网网址檒l always love you.B次元官网网址�

So shortly after her father learned of his health deterioration, Larsson sat down and put paper to pen, writing I Love My GrampsB次元官网网址�a book about ALS for childrenB次元官网网址攊n about an hour.

B次元官网网址淚 knew I could write, I wrote this (book),B次元官网网址� continued Larsson. B次元官网网址淏ut if itB次元官网网址檚 a childrenB次元官网网址檚 book, which is what I had envisioned in my head, I couldnB次元官网网址檛 draw a stick person to save my life, so I needed (to find) somebody who has a vision, has a heart for it, and is willing to help me out.B次元官网网址�

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With that in mind, Larsson says she spoke with a pastor at her church and was directed to one of the congregationB次元官网网址檚 youth members, Shannon Budau.

B次元官网网址淒eana approached me out of the blue,B次元官网网址� recalled Budau. B次元官网网址淪he told me our pastor had referred her to me because I was artsy and liked drawing. She told me she had roughed up this childrenB次元官网网址檚 book and B次元官网网址� asked me if I wanted to be part of it.

B次元官网网址淚 was right out of high school and had no experience illustrating a book, especially a childrenB次元官网网址檚 book, but I thought this could be a fun project,B次元官网网址� continued Budau.

However, before either party made a commitment to the other, Budau drew her vision for the storyB次元官网网址檚 main character and sent it to Larsson.

It was then, while looking at the little blonde girl with pigtails Budau had drawn for the book, that Larsson knew sheB次元官网网址檇 found her illustrator.

B次元官网网址淚 just fell in love with that little girl,B次元官网网址� said Larsson. B次元官网网址淚 knew then Shannon had to be the illustrator.B次元官网网址�

After that, Shannon says she B次元官网网址渟tarted falling in love with the story along with Deana,B次元官网网址� and used her knowledge of the family and their stories to draw a series of pictures she believed would help children understand the bookB次元官网网址檚 message.

B次元官网网址淚 blended (NeilB次元官网网址檚) multiple grandchildren together into that one little girl,B次元官网网址� explained Budau. B次元官网网址淚 wanted (the images) to look childlike and cartoony, but I also wanted it to be real and bright and happy.B次元官网网址�

So in her spare time, Budau would put pencil crayon to sketch pad and delve into the world of I Love My Gramps, bringing LarssonB次元官网网址檚 words to life on the page.

B次元官网网址淒eana told me stories about how her dad made a (wooden) train and boxes (for the grandkids), and I really made sure those were part of it,B次元官网网址� said Budau.

B次元官网网址淚 saw the progression in Neil,B次元官网网址� Budau continued. B次元官网网址淭his disease takes (people) away even before theyB次元官网网址檙e gone. It was really rough the last few months, watching him still be present in his mind but having his body not working.

B次元官网网址淪o I really see the value in this book, and canB次元官网网址檛 wait to read it to my children when I have them and teach them about this disease, and how thereB次元官网网址檚 still hope even if they lose somebody. (No matter what,) thereB次元官网网址檚 still good things that come from life.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淪tories can be told over and over again,B次元官网网址� added Toyer. B次元官网网址淭hat helps children understand. This (book) is a way to not only provide a tool, but to include the child in the family. ALS doesnB次元官网网址檛 just happen to one person, it happens to the whole family, and (projects like theses) give children the acknowledgement they need.B次元官网网址�

But more than a tool, Larsson says the book is also a way for her to give back to those who helped her family through such a difficult time: 50 per cent of the bookB次元官网网址檚 $20 cost will be donated to the ALS Society of BC.

B次元官网网址淲ithout the ALS Society, my dadB次元官网网址檚 journey would have been completely different,B次元官网网址� explained Larsson. B次元官网网址淭he equipment they had to offer: my dad had wheelchairs, walkers, special equipment in the bathroom, a hospital bed, a lift, and a special chair in the living room that would lift him to standing. We didnB次元官网网址檛 pay for any of (them), they were on loan from the ALS Society.

B次元官网网址淚f families were to have to pay for those things, I donB次元官网网址檛 see how they could. So when people donate to the Ice Bucket Challenge, or to the Walk, or buy a book where half of the proceeds go to the ALS Society, it might not seem like a big deal (at the time), but to the people in those families (dealing with ALS), itB次元官网网址檚 life changing.B次元官网网址�

The official book launch for I Love My Gramps isnB次元官网网址檛 until June 16, however, copies of the book are already available for purchase by emailing ILoveMyGrampsbyDeanaLarsson@gmail.com. Larsson and Budau will also be at the , which is on Saturday, June 9, at Mill Lake Park in Abbotsford, selling copies of the book.

Sarah.Gawdin@theprogress.com
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