Every ALS journey is different

A story of Strength and Self-Advocacy.

Dr. Colleen O’Connell discusses the recent paradigm shifts in time to diagnosis of ALS, including the ReferALS Early Referral Tool.

Early intervention and access to multidisciplinary care improved the quality of life for Mike Cels, who has been living with ALS for over six years.

Occupational Therapist, Krista MacMillan, explains how OTs helps those living with ALS and their caregivers maximize independence and quality of life and why early intervention is integral.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) commonly affects the respiratory system, as the disease progressively impairs the nerves that control the breathing muscles and the muscles become weak.

Many people living with ALS experience difficulties with their speech or swallowing as the disease progresses and begins to affect their ability to control the muscles used for these activities.

Spiritual needs are a part of life, and a spiritual care professional has an important role on an ALS multidisciplinary team. We sat down with Lana Kim McGeary to discuss the role of spiritual care and how it may benefit people living with ALS, their caregivers and loved ones.

In this interview, clinical nutritionist Madura Arunasalampillai explains the vital role of nutrition in ALS disease progression, how she overcomes common nutritional challenges for people living with ALS, and what she finds most rewarding in her work.

We sat down with Dr. Lorne Zinman to discuss and bring to light the importance of early diagnosis, to highlight his work with ALS patients, and to find out what brings him hope for the future.

“Working together with ALS patients is not only rewarding, but it’s also inspiring.” This is a sentiment heard from a number of nurses, who are an invaluable resource for those impacted by ALS.

In this moment the world slowed down around me as I heard the words come out of the neurologist’s mouth, “You have ALS.” I was shocked. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

For some, the expression “best friends” really means family. That is exactly the case for best friends Paige Wilkins and Taya Jones. In 1999, the two first started working together at a senior centre in Scarborough.