Welcome to all......

I would like to welcome ALL newcomers to my blog: Gene Chapman's ALS Journey. I was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gerhigs disease) back on 1/12/2010. It was confirmed on 2/12/2010. I enrolled and started in a 3rd stage drug trial out of the Mayo Jacksonville, Fl. Clinic that will hopefully stop but not cure ALS. My first dosing was on 4/30/2010 and my wife or my daughter in law administers two 20 cc dosages twice a day, one per sitting, 12 hours apart via a picc line that was surgically placed in my jugular vein.

I have filed for and should get disability by the end of August, 2010. Till then, my wife and I carve out a living with our two dogs in the Gainesville, Fl. area.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Good morning to all! Three more followers which is GREAT! I will make this short in honor of the Lord's Day: I love Him, I love Him, I Love Him! I am NOT angry at Father for allowing this disease to affect me. I do fight with anger, for it not to take over my life, like sooo many ALS patients have. I would like to know why? That's all.....What supreme purpose or "Value" (those of you who went thru the process know what I am talking about) am I to get out of this experience?

I saw a clip from a movie released recently, Letters to God, where the grandfather is talking to the kid with cancer and the postman trying to figure it all out; The grandfather, played by Ralph Waite, from the Walton's fame, tells his grandson that he, the grandson, was allowed to get that disease because God has the "Most important part of his life" to play. I am sorry, BUT that is too pat, too easy and too simple. It might work for a 9 year old kid and a 30 something guy that doesn't get it; but IT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME!

I am looking for Why Me and why THIS disease? What am I to do with it and Will HE choose to heal me? Or, is this the disease that will take me to my grave, much sooner than I anticipated. I keep coming back to the crippled guy at the pool of Bethesda (I don't know the reference because I can't find my Bibles) that could not get to the bottom of the pool when the angel stirred the waters to get in and waited some 30 years for Jesus to step over all the other cripples to find HIM! I don't know if it is the SPIRIT directing me or my spirit reaching out OR BOTH!

This didn't turn out as short as I hoped, BUT I do hope you folks get the idea. Please, please, please invite YOUR Friends and Family to check out his blog. Love Hugs and more, Gene
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4 comments:

  1. Pappy & NonaMay 16, 2010 at 11:16 AM

    We're wondering too, but we rest on fact that our father is all knowing and will give the grace and mercy daily until he answers our questions,where ever that may be.

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  2. Gene ChapmanMay 17, 2010 at 5:43 AM

    Yes, I agree with that post. Something within my soul is driving ME to ASK, SEEK and FIND... out the answers to these questions. I believe it is the drive to find VALUE and the drive to do HIS will in regards to this disease (Love for him).

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  3. CandaceMay 17, 2010 at 1:46 PM

    I admire your fight and your desire to know why. My mother got ALS when she was probably 77, but was diagnosed at 78. I was her caretaker for the last 20 months of her life, and I would like to know why also. Why for my mother and even on a bigger scale. I had a recent scare with my health, and when I would start to think why, I would think of so many others with so many problems, such as yourself, and children with cancer, so many problems, and then I would think why not me? I wish you and your wife much strength for the journey, and that you enjoy each and every small blessing as you fight. I'm not a very deep person, and have very few answers, but I can appreciate many of your feelings having been through the disease with my mother. Fatigue was one of her main complaints also, so I know you have to guard your energy. I tried to get her to go to Jacksonville for treatment, but she just didn't have the strength starting out already in her late 70's. Sorry for the rambling, but the subject sends my mind in different directions.

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  4. Gene ChapmanMay 17, 2010 at 4:01 PM

    Candance: Thank you for your post and thank you for sharing about your Mom. I did not experience it as you rambling; I experienced it as sharing you heart which you are ALWAYS welcome to do. Make sure you check out tomorrows post; I believe I've had a revelation. Love & Blessings, Gene C.

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