Lou Gehrig currently holds MLB records for

• Most grand slams: 23
• Most runs for a first baseman: 1,888
• Most RBIs by a first baseman: 1,995
• Most walks for a first baseman: 1,508

Congratulations to Tom and Brad who both had an answer within FIVE MINUTES of my post!  You either have a wealth of baseball knowledge or very quick google skills.  Either way, your yummy treats will be delivered by yours truly this weekend!

Between June 1, 1925 and April 30, 1939 Lou Gehrig played in 2,130 consecutive games (he also held this record until 1995 when it was beaten by Cal Ripkin Jr.).  But during the 1938 season it was clear there was something wrong and on May 2, 1939 Gehrig removed himself from the lineup ending his streak, making the game on April 30 the last game he ever played.  On June 19, 1939 Gehrig was diagnosed with ALS at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. And on July 4, before 62,000 fans Gehrig delivered his famous “Luckiest Man on Earth” speech at Yankee Stadium.  He died on June 2, 1941.

The disease that took his life also bears his name.  I Walk to Defeat ALS so that some day people won’t have to know the pain that was felt in Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939, the pain of losing a loved one whose life was cut short due to this hideous disease.  If you would like to support me in this endeavor or, even better if you’d like to walk with me please visit my fundraising page.

The Walk to Defeat ALS is one of the largest fundraising events for the ALS Association and walk events happen all across the country.  Visit this web page to find your local walk then put together a team, sign up to volunteer and start raising money.

Patient Services

Consultation with our professional patient services staff of nurses and masters level social workers is available for patients in their homes, via email and phone throughout the course of the disease.

Adaptation & Equipment Program offers the evaluation of equipment needs and home adaptations that can preserve energy and independence, identification of the best source for recommended devises and adaptations, and a loan pool of primarily used equipment that can be used if other sources are not available.

Clinic

ALS Clinics provide a place for patients and families to see the best ALS specialists in their community and they provide another form of support for patients and their families.

ALS Centers of Excellence are clinics, designated by the National office, that provide state-of-the-art care and clinical management of ALS through:

• The involvement of all necessary healthcare disciplines in the care of the ALS patient and family
• The offering of care from a team of people specially trained to meet the needs of those living with ALS, regardless of the ability to pay whenever possible; when not possible, providing advice to treating physician
• Collaborative work among Centers to enhance ALS patient care and techniques

These centers also actively engage patients to participate in drug trials.

**All the information here has come from The Keith Worthington Chapter web page as well as the National Association web page.

There is currently one FDA approved drug to help treat ALS, Riluzole, but it only prolongs life for a few months.  Progression is very different from patient to patient and it cannot be predicted.  The average life expectancy after diagnosis is 2-5 years; While the man in this video has been surviving with ALS for 7 years and seems to be doing pretty well this is not common and in many cases like this things will take a turn for the worst very quickly.  

The most well known, and unusual case of ALS is Stephen Hawking.  Not only has he been living with ALS (or Motor Neuron Disease (MND), in the UK) for more than 40 years he was also diagnosed at the very young age of 21; Most patients are diagnosed between the age of 40 and 70.  Stephen Hawking is an inspiration to ALS patients everywhere and is a prime example of what he disease can do to the body while still leaving the mind in tact.

• ALS Association Keith Worthington Chapter - this is our local chapter, we have locations in Kansas City, Springfield, Wichita and Omaha.  If you’re not from Kansas City you can visit the In Your Community portion of the National web page for a list of chapters across the US.
• ALS Association National
• Search Lou Gehrig’s Disease on YouTube and Google
• Read Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis on Wikipedia