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How does a 31 year old,
Brilliant, Handsome, Strong, Hilarious, Witty, Smart, Athletic, Caring, Charismatic, Scholar, Brother, Friend become speech impaired, loose the use of his hands and now wheel chair bound, in less than 2 years?
The answer ... ALS.
This is Sean's story...
As a young child, Sean thrived in academics yet his tremendous ability as a hockey player took him to be noticed by Universities. As most players know, even the best on the rink experience a multitude of concussions. Playing at the level Sean did, others were as good as he was with the strength of giants causing more injuries than the body could handle. About 4 years ago after a multitude of hockey concussions, his speech started to become slurred and he started experiencing aches in his joints and muscles - different early side affects of this disease. He brushed this aside-like many others would- thinking it was the cause of a hockey injury, which would heal and will go away. A few months pass and the muscles in his hands were starting to ache and atrophy- lose the muscle and grasping ability.
In the fall of 2013, Sean was thinking of making a career change, following in the footsteps of our chiropractic father. He still he did not have an answer to what was going on with him. He only knew to keep getting healthy.
Sean spoke with our dear friend, Dr. Norm Colby, and applied to Life University. He was accepted and starting on his new journey still believing this was only an injury and his body with time will recover.
Dr. Colby introduced Sean to Dr. Guy Riekeman, the President of Life University. Dr. Riekeman was heading up the Neurological program at the University where Sidney Crosby, a professional hockey player, gained much success rebuilding his brain. He insured Sean would benefit tremendously from this program. We were all so very excited for this to begin.
While waiting to start the Neurological program, Sean continued to achieve high marks in his courses at Life University. His health was decreasing yet he still pushed through. Right before Christmas of 2014, he was diagnosised was ALS at the young age of 31.
Sean finally was able to get into the Neurological program. He had some success with the few weeks of treatments he received along with the help of Dr. Michael Hatrack, his amazing chiropractor. Still Sean needed the help at home. Without his full ability with his hands, Sean had a really hard time dressing, eating, doing every day activities we all take for granted. He made the tough decision to leave school, head to Colorado and be around family for their help and support.
Every day is a struggle with this disease.
Sean is a strong and proud man who puts it on and says I am ok yet struggles silently to not "burden" others.
This diagnosis can never change the man we all know. In describing Sean, I would not even use the diagnosis in any means. To us who know him, we laugh a lot with him and know his logical mind is one to turn to.
We want to be here for him, as he has always been there for us.
My sisters, Denise, Dawn, Danielle and I are looking to help raise as much as we can to help him afford his chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopath and whatever else he needs as this disease takes away his ability to work.
It would mean so much to all of us to help Sean in his quest to rebuild his cells. Any donation will help.
Donate here and please share to others so hopefully we can reach this goal and more.
Thank you you from all of us in advance.
AMH.
Thank you,
Dana Cirone
Brilliant, Handsome, Strong, Hilarious, Witty, Smart, Athletic, Caring, Charismatic, Scholar, Brother, Friend become speech impaired, loose the use of his hands and now wheel chair bound, in less than 2 years?
The answer ... ALS.
This is Sean's story...
As a young child, Sean thrived in academics yet his tremendous ability as a hockey player took him to be noticed by Universities. As most players know, even the best on the rink experience a multitude of concussions. Playing at the level Sean did, others were as good as he was with the strength of giants causing more injuries than the body could handle. About 4 years ago after a multitude of hockey concussions, his speech started to become slurred and he started experiencing aches in his joints and muscles - different early side affects of this disease. He brushed this aside-like many others would- thinking it was the cause of a hockey injury, which would heal and will go away. A few months pass and the muscles in his hands were starting to ache and atrophy- lose the muscle and grasping ability.
In the fall of 2013, Sean was thinking of making a career change, following in the footsteps of our chiropractic father. He still he did not have an answer to what was going on with him. He only knew to keep getting healthy.
Sean spoke with our dear friend, Dr. Norm Colby, and applied to Life University. He was accepted and starting on his new journey still believing this was only an injury and his body with time will recover.
Dr. Colby introduced Sean to Dr. Guy Riekeman, the President of Life University. Dr. Riekeman was heading up the Neurological program at the University where Sidney Crosby, a professional hockey player, gained much success rebuilding his brain. He insured Sean would benefit tremendously from this program. We were all so very excited for this to begin.
While waiting to start the Neurological program, Sean continued to achieve high marks in his courses at Life University. His health was decreasing yet he still pushed through. Right before Christmas of 2014, he was diagnosised was ALS at the young age of 31.
Sean finally was able to get into the Neurological program. He had some success with the few weeks of treatments he received along with the help of Dr. Michael Hatrack, his amazing chiropractor. Still Sean needed the help at home. Without his full ability with his hands, Sean had a really hard time dressing, eating, doing every day activities we all take for granted. He made the tough decision to leave school, head to Colorado and be around family for their help and support.
Every day is a struggle with this disease.
Sean is a strong and proud man who puts it on and says I am ok yet struggles silently to not "burden" others.
This diagnosis can never change the man we all know. In describing Sean, I would not even use the diagnosis in any means. To us who know him, we laugh a lot with him and know his logical mind is one to turn to.
We want to be here for him, as he has always been there for us.
My sisters, Denise, Dawn, Danielle and I are looking to help raise as much as we can to help him afford his chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopath and whatever else he needs as this disease takes away his ability to work.
It would mean so much to all of us to help Sean in his quest to rebuild his cells. Any donation will help.
Donate here and please share to others so hopefully we can reach this goal and more.
Thank you you from all of us in advance.
AMH.
Thank you,
Dana Cirone
Organizer and beneficiary
Dana Michelle Cirone
Organizer
Toms River, NJ
Sean Gagnon
Beneficiary