I, like the rest of you, have seen
countless videos of
people enduring the
ALS Ice Bucket challenge. However, I confess
that while I watched them and laughed at their
reactions, I feared the worst.

I feared that I would be picked out. I
suppose I shouldn’t fear what is inevitable
because it happened.

Saturday morning, while selecting what
muffin I wanted from Panera, I heard my
cellphone’s text tone, Darth Vader: Breath.
Thinking I was going to receive a chirpy
good morning message, I read the horrible
news: I was nominated.

My best friend of twelve years had betrayed
our friendship for a bucket of ice cold water
over my head. Mind you, she was selected too
and wanted us to endure the trail together. I
suppose it could be considered an acceptable
betrayal.

Before partaking in the challenge, I decided
to do some research on ALS.
What I discovered turned off my faucet of
minor complaints. According to www.alsa.
org, “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),
often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” is
a progressive neurodegenerative disease that
affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal
cord [. . .]. The progressive degeneration of
the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to
their death”. I stared for an extended amount of
time at the words “progressive degeneration”.
Anything beginning with “pro” usually has a
positive ring to it: pro-athlete, professional, as
well as progressive.

In this case with ALS, it is anything but
positive. Progressive degeneration means that
the individuals suffering are slowly losing their
motor skills. They are no longer able to walk,
carry things, or care for themselves. Eventually
they are completely paralyzed, relying
exclusively on caretakers.

Currently, a cure has not been discovered,
nor a treatment but there is a new understanding
of it from a scientific standpoint.
With only a better understanding of
the disease, it is suggested that by the year
2025, one in every 25 American adults will
be diagnosed with ALS, Parkinson’s or
Alzheimer’s.

Understanding will only go so far. We need
treatments. More importantly, we need a cure.
While I feared that dumping ice cold water
on me would give my heart quite the shock,
with the information at my fingertips about
ALS, I knew that I couldn’t back out even
though I wanted to with all my might.
I had to succumb to the frigid water. I had
to be one of the many to raise awareness and
donate to the cause because, who knows? Who
knows what the future may hold. One of my
parents could be diagnosed with ALS, perhaps
a sibling, a cousin, an aunt or uncle, friend or a
lover. I wouldn’t want to look back and realize
I had done nothing for the cause and I have a
goal to live without regrets. I feel that if I didn’t
allow the cold water to pour over my head, it
would be regret.

For the victims of ALS, be brave and accept the challenge.