Damn this one hurts. A friend and a neighbor has ALS.

[Botany]

He just moved back into the neighborhood into a little house he had as a rental
about 4 or 5 years ago after a divorce and busted his ass to fix up his place and
I redid the landscape w/OH native plants, a creeping red fescue lawn, a nice lime-
stone wall, and a bird and butterfly wildflower native grass garden. He redid the
inside of the house, the front porch, and the deck too. His little real estate biz was
picking up and I had him ready to sell my parent's home when my mother is ready
to move.

The disease is moving swiftly so he has to sell his little dream house, move to Florida
to be close to family, and live in an assisted living facility. He leaves on Friday and
I doubt I'll ever see him again. His grown son (30 I would guess) is in the Coast Guard
stationed in San Fransisco but has come back to town to help his Dad move and help
settle things. Great Kid! (A man really.)

I thought my friend would have a little more time in the neighborhood but that is not be
... I am doing everything I can to help but in the end I just feel kind of useless. When I
bumped over his trash dumpster and saw a lifetime of pictures there my heart got heavy.

Anybody who lives in Central OH and wants a cute little house in Clintonville please let me know.
(I will not get one cent from the sale of the property)


American Wahoo fruits ... I have one growing @ the house. They are really this red right now.

[spooky3]

1. I'm so sorry. Devastating. Nt

[Peacetrain]

2. I am so sorry Botany..

[irisblue]

3. Botany, I am so sorry

[captain queeg]

4. My brother has ALS. It really sucks.

[Botany]

6. My thoughts are with you and your family.

Not really much they can do. My friend's disease is moving very fast.

[gademocrat7]

5. So sorry, Botany.

[Paka]

7. Very sad indeed.

My sister died from ALS five years ago and it is truly the worst disease possible. The mind stays alert while the body slowly dies and there is literally no relief available. I went back to Oregon from Thailand where I have been living for over ten years to help with her care. Treasure and remember the memories you have of your friend. I hope his family has the strength to endure this devastating blow.

[Botany]

10. My friend was a ski instructor, a good athlete, and smart.

I hope the end is quick and his suffering is not too great. We are all on the same path but
when it gets real sometimes it feels heavy. I have to say good bye tomorrow and I don't
know how I'll find the strength.

[Paka]

19. And it does take a lot of strength.

My spirit will be with you. Quick is the best you can hope for. It was two years from diagnosis with my sister and the last year was especially brutal. I had a dear friend who died with ALS ten years prior to that, but still I wasn't prepared.

[LisaM]

8. It's heartbreaking.

I feel for everyone involved; what a slap in the face from life.

I guess it's good he has family to go back to, but....

[blm]

9. Sorry to hear, old buddy.

In a similar situation here in NC. Sad weeks ahead.

[dawg day]

11. You've been a good friend. That will be a comfort to him.

ALS is one of the worst diseases. Tragic.

[uponit7771]

12. Get him checked for Lyme diseas, I've heard reactions are somewhat similar

[Bayard]

13. Dang....

So sorry, Botany.

[redwitch]

14. That is really sad.

ALS sucks.

[panader0]

15. My sympathies--that does hurt.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

16. Damn. It breaks my heart reading stories like this.

Best to all involved.

[SWBTATTReg]

17. Perhaps the house you two worked on together can sort of be a fond memory of your ...

times together. Best wishes to your friend and you. Indeed a sad time...

[malaise]

18. It's a horrible disease

We buried a good friend's son last year . He was in his early 40s - a brilliant medical doctor.