I never dreamed that something like this could ever happen to us in a million years; yet that is exactly what has happened.

My beautiful wife of 20 years, Marianne, has been given less than a year to live.  Our doctor has diagnosed her with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.  All those weeks of declination in her overall health, the endless tests, speculations, doctors' appointments have finally come into play and now, life as we knew it is officially over.

If anything, my wife will continue to grow worse until she is unable to get out of bed or breathe on her own, moving nothing but her eyes.  From a healthy vibrant woman, she has turned into a prisoner of her own body, now unable to walk but a few short feet on her own, and suffering from numerous falls, and whatnot.  She now uses a wheelchair exclusively because she has gotten so weakened.

It is terrifying to see Marianne looking like this.  She has never been one to accept help from others; she put the needs of others before herself; now the shoe is on the other foot: she is the one in need of help.

I don't know how I am going to break the devastating news to her family.  Nobdoy on either side of the family has ever experienced something like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a fatal, progressive neuromuscular disease that usually claims its victims within one to five years after initial onset.  It is one of the worst diseases known to man, and right now, at the current time, there is no cure (though the MDA and other organizations are working hard to find one). 

Still, that is of little comfort because until then, we have to watch Marianne deterioate, and then, eventually, succumb to the disorder.

If there is any time we need God (or a miracle) it is now ....

~To be continued!~