Your Future Looks Bright!

Panda Express. I got a fortune cookie there that said this. I have it right where I can see it every day. Right on my picture with me Carly and Santa. Yes, I took a picture with Santa this year. It cost me though, because Carly didn't have a red outfit on, so I had to buy her a red American Eagle sweater to do it with me.


Of course it can have multiple meanings... (no, not the picture with Santa, the fortune!)

• It can be taken literally as if there is a cure that will halt progress of the disease and maybe even reverse it.
  
  
• It can mean I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, whether it's the trains headlights, who knows.



• Or those who have had near death experiences say that you are supposed to see this amazing bright light!
  

Whatever the meaning, anyone that knows me well knows that I'm stickin' with the first one.

Physical Update

The diaphragm pacer is working! I have more energy, I am breathing easier and my family even says they can understand me more when I speak. The latter benefit would be equivalent to saying that you could understand the adults better in A Charlie Brown Christmas than you could in The Great Pumpkin. At least the first 2 are making a difference in my quality of life.

Otherwise, the use of my arms and legs continue to digress. I'm still eating almost everything and amazingly enough can actually drink a beer faster and more easily than before!

Lithium?

Who knows? There seems to be some very promising, reputable studies out of Italy that show marked success in halting the progress of and even potentially restoring some functionality, particularly in bulbar onset cases like mine. Lithium is a very old drug used to treat people with bi-polar disorder. But as conservative as the US medical system is, we are struggling to get a prescription for it. If I could talk I'd have no trouble acting bi-polar and getting a prescription. My mom is on it though so by hook or by crook we will get a prescription for it!

Still feeling the love!

It’s been nearly 2 years since my diagnosis, but the depth of the love that I feel from each and every one of you hasn't diminished one bit. I just got this incredible heart medallion from my relatives in Pacifica. It is very special indeed and I have it hung around the frame of the aforementioned picture with Santa.

Golf Tournament

My sister Ramey is combing The Farmer's Almanac for a nice day this spring to hold the 2nd DD Defeat Golf Tournament. It is certain to be as much fun as the 1st one! More details to come as soon as we have a date.

No particular words of wisdom this month except that I have no intentions of giving up or giving in to this horrible disease. Yes, I have good days and bad days but I am staring this disease down and have no intentions of losing, no matter what the odds! After all The Future Looks Bright!

Cheers!

DD