Lou Gehrigs Disease ALS: The Story Of A Hero
The following is an account of one man’s passionate life journey despite Lou Gehrigs Disease ALS.
The thick Alabama heat bears down on Michael in a heavy blanket of sweat. A cool breeze flicks across his face, temporarily distracting him from the beads of moisture above his brow. He squints his eyes against the sun and concentrates on the quarterback. The play begins, and he watches as his players scramble across the field, jockeying for their rightful positions. The pigskin is tossed and sails easily into the arms of the wide receiver who clutches it to his chest, running at full speed. Slowly, Michael reaches to grab the whistle hanging around his neck, and gives two quick blows.
Two whistle blows and the team jogs over, panting and tired from a long practice. Michael gives a quick pep talk and dismisses the team, who quickly jog back to the showers and to head home. Michael tightened his grip on his dark brown cane and ambled towards his office. E
Michael Ortega is living with ALS. He has proven, however, that a man is not his disease, and it does not stop him from living his dream daily.
His life holds true to the never quit motto painted in large block letters above his office door. Grimacing through his pain on the sidelines, he strives to a part of what made him the man he is today.He believes that the game shaped his character, teaching him discipline, teamwork, and integrity. He wants to pass on a sense of hope and determination in the face of adversity. For Michael, its not about struggling through his ALS, its about remaining true to himself.
The never quit motto posted above his office epitomizes his life. He teaches his team that hard work and determination are important on and off of the field and that there is nothing holding them back but themselves. There should be no box that anyone allows themselves to be put into.
He leads by example, and wants to show his son that nothing can stand in the way of your dreams, but you. There are no limits to what can be accomplished if you just set your mind to it. Determination and optimism is key. 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.
Years ago, my eighth grade history teacher said to us, fill your dash. No one knows how long we have on this earth when we arrive. All that we can do with our time here on earth is to be the inspiration we wish to see in the world. Michael’s determination to be a positive force in the world around him draws people near him. His players look up to him and see him as something to emulate. He is an inspiration in his community and is doing all that he can to embrace and enjoy his time left.
In the words of Gandhi, be the change that you wish to see in the world. Life is short and sweet, and the seas are turbulent, but when need be, you can always just adjust your sails.
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!