May 23, 2003 

Hi Everyone,  

May is ALS Awareness Month.  Al is keeping busy working on his boat getting ready for another busy summer with family and friends.  He is slowly getting worse.  He has designed hooks with leather straps to lift and pull on things since he has lost most of his grip and strength in his arms plus he uses his legs more to get things up higher and give it a push.  He continues to feed himself and take care of his personal needs.  He is driving and the illness hasn’t really affected his legs yet.  He has gone down from an extra large to a large shirt.  His upper body is getting a lot smaller.  His speech is a little harder to understand with slurring and excess saliva.  He continues to putt around designing tools that work for him. I am always amazed how much he gets done watching him struggle with his hands.  He still loves to cook though there is a lot more to clean up in the kitchen when he is done.  He has learned to work for a certain amount of time and then rest for an hour or so which helps him regain energy so he can do more.  I am working the 3-ll shift so I can be at home during the day to help him when he lets me.  He has become more stubborn than ever but I think that is what keeps him going.  

There have been two wonderful fundraisers for Al.  One was the Beef and Beer Fundraiser put on by our family and friends in Cape May, New Jersey April 5^th and the other was the David R. Harding Memorial Gold Tournament put on by the Bar Harbor Banking and Trust Co. in Bar Harbor, Maine, May 20th.  They were a huge success.  Al could never continue these treatments without all your financial help and support.  These are emotional times but being with everyone gives us the strength to go on to battle this devastating disease.  Al will be going for another treatment with Dr. Espy in June.  He always has more strength, speaks clearer and feels better after this.  We send heartfelt gratitude to everyone.  We can never thank you enough.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued prayers, love and support.  

Sincerely grateful, Gloria and Al