ALS

[livingwith]

I am the daughter of a beautiful woman who has been stricken with Bulbar ALS She was diagnosed 9 months ago, in July ‘07, and has declined rapidly.
I’ll try and start at the beginning…about 3 years ago, mom began to be more fatigued, started to withdraw, and seemed to be in some pain. She complained of feeling as though she couldn’t breath when she laid down. Next it was her speech. She began to slur and had a hard time projecting her voice. Then she began to fall down....Read the full article

[nmarredondo]

I hope this will help to give you and your family strength Milissa. This is truly the only strenth that I had or she had. On September 9th 2007 a few minutes before midnight, our mother's struggle with ALS ended. She was 59 years old. My mother was an absolutely beautiful woman, both before and after her diagnosis. She lived approximately one year and a half after being diagnosed.



I can say that I never heard her complain. She only cried a few times. I know that she was terrified and anxious in her last few months. In the end, her body had completely stopped functioning. She was not able to walk, talk, eat or even move any part of her body. At times, she was able to blink in response to questions.



Tiffany and I were able to be with her in her last moments. We traveled for 4 hours and were told that she may not make it til we arrived. We arrived shortly before midnight. My mother lived for approximately ten more minutes after we arrived.



I tell this story, because I want you all to understand God's grace and his mercy..........that Sunday morning I prayed that God would take her suffering and that she would be able to go quickly home to be with Him. She had suffered long enough. I felt an overwhelming amount of emotion while I prayed that morning. Overcome by both emotion and tears...pleading that He would hear. I have said for several months that she would go peacefully and perhaps in her sleep. I also said that she would not suffer anymore pass the summer when others would ask. I stood on my Faith and that statement was a statement of Faith. Upon, receiving the call Sunday evening, I found that she had declined rapidly and it had begun sometime Sunday morning. This is no coincidence! This was GOD. Upon our arrival, our mother was not actually breathing, but taking in gasps of air...I believe that these were breaths that He gave her til we arrived. We had prayed the whole trip to arrive in time to be with her. Tiffany and I were with her alone. We were able to say goodbye and to hold on to her as she left. While holding her we played, The Valley Song by Jars of Clay and I prayed intensely over her for several minutes. When I was finished praying, I told her that it was ok and she could close her eyes. I told her she did not have to suffer and that it was ok to let go. After speaking these things to her and letting her know she could be with Jesus, my mother never took another gasp!! She knew that she was free to go! She knew that it was ok! She knew that we were with her.....she knew that she was soon safe in the arms of her Savior.



The fact that she stopped breathing instantly...was an act of GOD. He allowed us to say goodbye. He allowed us to be with her and to release her! The most amazing thing of all.....at her funeral, 7 people were saved and they gave their lives to Jesus.



For all of you reading this.....please understand the Love of Christ! If you have not given your life to the Lord, please make today the day that you give your life to Him! There were so many miracles leading up to my mother's passing and after! Please let GOD work miracles through you! Continue to live for Him or begin to live for Him. My mother's time to serve Him on earth was short, but yours does not have to be.....GOD BLESS YOU AND MY BEAUTIFUL MOTHER!!


In prayer-Nicole Arredondo [moderator note: e-mail address has been removed]