I grew up in Minnesota as the youngest of seven children. Married to Ed for over 23 years, we have raised five children together. I’ve had a successful career in the Employee Benefit Industry for more than 35 years.

I have always loved sports and led a healthy, active lifestyle. Tennis has been a passion since high school, and I’ve also enjoyed skiing, swimming, golf, yoga, biking, and pickleball. Gardening, traveling, cooking, sewing, and entertaining friends are other hobbies I cherish. Staying fit has always been a priority for both my physical and mental health.

As a regular swimmer, I was introduced to Fluid Running by a friend and quickly fell in love with it as another way to stay fit. I attended classes led by the amazing Marcy Dunne and found it to be a fantastic way to work out and socialize simultaneously. (Pam Devitt often “shhh’d” me in class when I was chatting it up with friends.)

In the summer of 2022, I noticed I couldn’t balance on my right foot during yoga. This was followed by tripping during daily walks and struggling on the tennis court. My condition worsened in the fall, prompting me to seek medical answers. After six months of numerous doctor visits, EMGs (which hurt!), MRIs, and consultations with specialists, we ruled out all potential diagnoses except ALS. In denial, I sought a second opinion two months later, which also confirmed ALS as the most likely diagnosis.

It’s baffling how a ‘healthy as a horse’ individual who, at 59, has never been on any medication, could have an incurable degenerative disease predicted to take away her passions and ultimately her life within the next 2-5 years. Acceptance is hard, and denial can be blissful. Each day becomes more challenging, but like Dory from “Finding Nemo,” I keep “swimming.” I’ll use my abilities until I lose them.

As my mobility declined, I had to stop participating in the sports and activities I’ve always loved—tennis, pickleball, skiing, even walking. By the time I was diagnosed, the only exercise that felt “normal” was Fluid Running. I could get into the pool, put music in my ears, and just run (something I couldn’t do out of the pool). It felt so good to forget I had ALS while I was in the pool. Today, Fluid Running is my only form of cardio exercise. (And we all know how important cardio is for our mental health!)

Living in the present allows me not to worry about how bad things might get for my family and me. It allows me to accept changes as they come and adjust to new living parameters. I focus on the “silver linings,” and there are many:

• I have never felt so loved in my life.
• People are incredibly kind and offer to help in so many ways.
• I’ve traveled extensively this past year, nearly completing my 50-state bucket list (a family vacation to Alaska would never have happened otherwise).
• I still have time. Friends who passed at younger ages didn’t have the time I now cherish.
• This happened at 58, not 35. I’ve lived a good life and am not done making great memories with my loved ones.
• I’ve given myself the grace to be angry and sad when needed. I’m lucky to be an optimist, and resilience is an important word for me.

Fundraising is essential because we’re still far behind in finding a cure for ALS. Due to its rarity, ALS hasn’t received the attention and research funding other diseases have. The number of people getting this disease is increasing, and we need to help future victims have a better chance of survival and improved quality of life. ALS affects people of all sexes, ages, and ethnicities, robbing healthy individuals like myself. I am fortunate to have a supportive network of people who want to help me, and I want to pay it forward by raising awareness and funds for ALS.

I am blessed to have a good friend like Marcy Dunne, who is dedicating herself to raising money and awareness for ALS by running a marathon in the water.