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Retrieved from: https://www.gofundme.com/CareFundForAlex

I watched a video that described Alex Coriell's journey with ALS.  Alex was diagnosed with ALS in January of 2013 at 29 years old.  As is common with ALS, the progression of the disease happened quickly.  In September of 2013, he lost the ability to eat by mouth.  His arms and hands got weaker and he eventually lost so much muscle in his arms that he could no longer use them.  Ten months after his diagnosis, walking became difficult which lead him to use a cane and then a wheelchair.  Through his journey, Alex never lost his spirit or gave up.  He never stopped trying to keep moving.  He was always sharing his story with others.  One way he facilitated this was through blogging.  Even when he lost the use of both of his hands, he used his nose to type on an iPad.  When that became difficult, he used a device where he could use his eyes to type.  When Alex could no longer take care of himself, his wife Marissa was there to help with everything he needed.  She was with him every step of the way.  Alex never lost his joy, humor, or his love for his wife and children.  His incredible faith gave him strength and hope.  Alex passed away on November 10, 2015.  He was the co-founder of Unbroken International.

I chose to watch this video because I feel like I have never known or heard much about ALS.  Alex's story benefited me by allowing me to see the affects of ALS on a specific person.  For me one of the worse and hardest parts of ALS is the fact that the person's mind is unaffected while they body stops working.  I can't imagine the feeling of being stuck in your own body.  I thought that Alex explained this in a great way.  He said, "It causes me great pain and limits what I can do, yet my brain is left unaffected.  Imagine being able to think of anything you want to do, but your body won't do it."  Another aspect of Alex's story that I found important is the role of caregivers.  Alex had great support from his wife who helped him with everything he needed through the progression of the disease.  I have learned the importance of caregivers and have a great appreciation of all of what they do for those they care for.  In the video, you also see Alex use adaptive equipment.  One thing I found very interesting was when Alex was painting.  He had a paintbrush attached to something he could wear on his head.  Using his head, he could paint.  He also uses a similar process to drop paint on the picture to make a splatter design.  His finished project proves that it is amazing what is possible with adaptive equipment!  Alex's story gave me a greater understanding of ALS.  It was also very inspiring to see how he never lost his spirt and how he desired to educate others about ALS.

You can also see his blog here: http://alexandercoriell.blogspot.com/?view=snapshot

  


































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