I am a lucky 45-year-old guy with a lovely wife and two children. I've had a lot of luck in my life and hope to find a little more! I all but ignored the first symptom of MND in 2006, when I experienced a mysterious right leg weakness. Over the following 2 years weakness was followed by atrophy, fasciculations and cramping in my legs. I knew it was time to be tested, again. I know what "insidious onset" means now! I'm sure we all have stories and advice to help each other and our families through our difficulties. I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of you throughout this community!

I've been lucky all of my life.  I was adopted by a wonderful family at the age of almost 13 (an age where most children are not.)   Instead of living a life with no direction and inevitable hopelessness, I was able to graduate high school, attend college and study my passion of music (not the wisest choice, perhaps.)  It did, however, lead me to a performing career and my Wife of almost 10 years.  We have been blessed with a lovely daughter and handsome son (my wife's features.)  I have seen parts of the world I could only have dreamed for someone else's life!   The difficulties of my youth have definately been overshadowed by the good fortune of my adulthood.  Even now, facing the challenges of MND, I wouldn't trade my life for another.  It's who I am and will always be. Although I'm still able to do most things, I am very aware of what challenges my family and I will likely face. Strangely, I've always anticipated this sort of challenge in my life.  It's hard to explain, really.  I make it a point each day to give that extra hug and kiss -for days later on when I may be unable to.   I tend to keep my sanity by empowering myself with knowledge and research about this disease.  It gets a bit morbid, at times, for my Wife. But she understands that it helps me to learn and prepare for the future.  I really do appreciate what I have and have had in my life.  I think I've truly learned to see the glass as half full.  I look forward to meeting any and all of you to share (whatever it is we share) that helps us keep on keepin' on!  That reminds me, I don't know what I'd do without my faithful beagle, Mickey.  He seems to recognize that I'm NOT FINISHED yet!