Lou Gehrigs Disease ALS: Sailing Away
The following is an account of one man’s passionate life journey despite Lou Gehrigs Disease ALS.
The warm summer rays beam down on Michael’s neck. A cool breeze gently graces his cheek as he stares out onto to the field, concentrating on the twenty yard line. The football is hiked, two steps back, a quick fake and jetted across the field. The ball falls easily into the hand of the wide receiver who snags it from the air and darts for the end zone. Michael slowly raises his hand to his chest picking up the silver whistle refracting the sunlight in quick, bright flashes of blinding light.
Coach Michael gingerly sets his silver whistle between his lips, giving two quick blasts, resulting in the team jogging over at half-pace, sweaty and tired. After a quick talk, they are dismissed to head home. Michael regrips the cane at his side and slowly makes his way to his office, already contemplating tomorrows practice.
Michael Ortega has ALS but he has not allowed his diagnosis to dictate his life. He is the head coach for a local high school football team and serves as an inspiration for his players. For many, he serves as a father figure and mentor.
Since a young age, football has enticed him. He played in college for a few years before heading back home to coach. He believes that football taught him to be the man he is today, and he wants to pass on the virtues of integrity, discipline, and teamwork to ensure a better world than the one he came into.
Through instilling the virtues he learned years ago from the game, he hopes that by spreading his message of integrity, discipline, and teamwork he can make a difference in the lives of each and every individual he comes into contact with, this effecting a more positive change in the world as a whole. Michael understands the realities of his situations, and has even had to miss practice a few times this year, but for him, it is not about struggling through his ALS, it is simply about being who he is.
Michael understands the realities of his situation, but will not allow for this to cloud his time left with his family and team. In his words, though we cannot control the wind of our adverse conditions, we can adjust the sails.
The chaotic nature of life leads some to think that everything is random and that nothing matters. I believe though, that it is all intricately connected and interwoven. Your actions in the past have made you who you are today and will affect the world around you. Understanding that life is and always will be a temporary thing allows you to focus on the more important aspects of it while you are here.
My eighth grade history teacher once called it, filling your dash. No one can be sure of the time we have here on earth when we arrive. All that we can do is take what we are given and try to turn into something positive and effectual. Michael’s determination to be that positive force in the world draws people to him, leaving others that want to emulate his lifestyle and personality.
You are not your diagnosis, you are a human being. A living, breathing, feeling, beautiful creature with the power to mold your life into exactly what you want it to be. Adjust the sails as need be and ensure smooth sailing for as long as you are at sea.
Get information about Lou Gehrigs disease ALS now! David Jay lives with ALS and provides assistance, motivation, and information to individuals who need to overcome obstacles in their lives. Get more information when you visit http://davidjay.blogspot.com/ today!