Hi & how are ya?
Saturday was my 53rd birthday & it's prompted me to start a blog documenting my final year. Now, I know that's dramatic & sets me up to look pretty silly if I'm around for, say, 2016's BATMAN V SUPERMAN (or the next X-MEN--I'm not picky). Alternately, it'd be embarrassing if I fall or something & am outta here before Labor Day (tho' it'd likely be tragic enough that most wouldn't bring it up). So...it ain't set in stone or nuthin', just a feeling.
Today, a recap. It's not often I discuss my health, so much of this may be new material.
At 35, I noticed problems holding a pencil. My dream of drawing comics had been attained--Marvel, DC, Comico, et al--& I was in the next phase: STAYING in comics. A joke for the funnybook folks. It wasn't the strain or overuse I'd hoped & it didn't get better. Before the end of '97, we had a diagnosis of ALS, aka Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, aka Lou Gehrig's Disease, aka a pretty evil sumbitch of a terminal disease.
Now, it's hard to complain TOO much--believe me, I've tried--when EVERYONE else with ALS has been treated so much more cruelly by it. Life expectancy is 1-5 years, I'm at 17+. Speech & mobility tend to go quickly, I'm still talking & walking without assistance. Not WELL, mind you...I sound drunk as Cooter Brown & move even worse. Had to give up driving (coming on 2 years back), need help dressing, & have to be very focused when eating. Machines have started popping up around the house this past year: a fridge I can OPEN, a breathing machine, a tooth machine, & a new stairlift (boycott Acorn!--a future story). So far, the chair's seldom-used, mainly when I'm tired(er) or need a book brought up/down.
So, I've been very blessed in many ways, fortunate beyond good reason. I've got a wife, friend & partner I could never deserve...a comfortable home with room for, who knows--50 thousand?--comic books...great & loving friends/family (same thing to me)...fantastic memories of creating comics...pretty good insurance (!)...& more time to enjoy it all than is normally allowed in such circumstances. My neurologist told me last month that I'm the top ALS patient in the country, #1! NO one I've ever met with the disease is still around! Who could whine & gripe that it ain't enough, right?!
Still...seriously...you mean I'm NEVER gonna get to draw Spider-Man again?
Saturday was my 53rd birthday & it's prompted me to start a blog documenting my final year. Now, I know that's dramatic & sets me up to look pretty silly if I'm around for, say, 2016's BATMAN V SUPERMAN (or the next X-MEN--I'm not picky). Alternately, it'd be embarrassing if I fall or something & am outta here before Labor Day (tho' it'd likely be tragic enough that most wouldn't bring it up). So...it ain't set in stone or nuthin', just a feeling.
Today, a recap. It's not often I discuss my health, so much of this may be new material.
At 35, I noticed problems holding a pencil. My dream of drawing comics had been attained--Marvel, DC, Comico, et al--& I was in the next phase: STAYING in comics. A joke for the funnybook folks. It wasn't the strain or overuse I'd hoped & it didn't get better. Before the end of '97, we had a diagnosis of ALS, aka Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, aka Lou Gehrig's Disease, aka a pretty evil sumbitch of a terminal disease.
Now, it's hard to complain TOO much--believe me, I've tried--when EVERYONE else with ALS has been treated so much more cruelly by it. Life expectancy is 1-5 years, I'm at 17+. Speech & mobility tend to go quickly, I'm still talking & walking without assistance. Not WELL, mind you...I sound drunk as Cooter Brown & move even worse. Had to give up driving (coming on 2 years back), need help dressing, & have to be very focused when eating. Machines have started popping up around the house this past year: a fridge I can OPEN, a breathing machine, a tooth machine, & a new stairlift (boycott Acorn!--a future story). So far, the chair's seldom-used, mainly when I'm tired(er) or need a book brought up/down.
So, I've been very blessed in many ways, fortunate beyond good reason. I've got a wife, friend & partner I could never deserve...a comfortable home with room for, who knows--50 thousand?--comic books...great & loving friends/family (same thing to me)...fantastic memories of creating comics...pretty good insurance (!)...& more time to enjoy it all than is normally allowed in such circumstances. My neurologist told me last month that I'm the top ALS patient in the country, #1! NO one I've ever met with the disease is still around! Who could whine & gripe that it ain't enough, right?!
Still...seriously...you mean I'm NEVER gonna get to draw Spider-Man again?
