2015 has definitely been a challenge for my family. One that we have accepted and will do our very best to cope with.
Earlier this year my father, Doug Hickson, was diagnosed with Huntington's Disease, which we were aware runs in our family. Unfortunately, that was not explaining my father's left side weakness. We were hopeful that it was just a back problem that would be fixed with surgery. With much devastation we were informed otherwise. It is ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. This is a terminal illness that gives most people 5 years to live. Living with this illness is a huge struggle as it slowly debilitates you. Working from the limbs in towards the body. It shuts down the neurons in your brain and your muscles quickly deteriorate. This makes life very challenging doing the easiest of tasks. Therefore, this disease has taken over his quality of life very quickly. He has lost most of his mobility and struggles to breath or cough up excess phlegm, making the common cold a major problem. He relys on a motorized wheelchair, that has been made specifically for him, including other equipement such as lifts and respiratory machines. More equipment will be needed for him to survive, most likely, in the very near future.
As a family, we made the choice to move in together so we can help with his care as well as my mothers. She also deals with her own disease. She has Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and was diagnosed 12 years ago. She was forced to go on long term disability from her job as an Emergency Nurse. She had been fortunate in her disease as we know it could be much worse. With the added stress of my father's illness it has exacerbated her own.
I am an only child of two of the strongest, kindest and giving people I know. They have taught me to be the best person I can be while giving back to those in need. The only way I can repay them for my blessed life is to be there when they need me most!
I am very grateful to have an amazing spouse to help with the struggles we face and battle them together one day at a time. There is undeniable stress, frustration and anger that results from these circumstances however, I know that we are not alone. Having two pre-teen children has been such a godsend, for more reasons than one. They are so helpful and strong. I don't know how we would cope without them, especially with their assisstance in helping out their baby sister.
The only thing missing is the funding to help my father live to the fulliest of his capabilities and enjoy his family with the time he has left.
This is where you come in! I am asking for your help through donations that will help to buy equipement, supplies and planned outtings that my father wants to do before he dies. His most recent request is to go to a Blue Jays game and The Ripleys Aquarium in Toronto. These may seem small to some but with everything else costing us money it is hard to find "extra" money to spend on our families time together. I wish to make lasting memories for all of us to share. As he is unable to do any big travels, it is my hope to get him out as much as possible.
I also want to give back to the The ALS Clinic at McMaster Hospital and the ALS Society who have been so good to us through all of this. They are an amazing outsorce of information, support and guidance at such a difficult time in peoples lives. I could not be more grateful for all of their help. I would love to be able to give back and help the ALS community and families affected by similar circumstances. It is not easy but it can be managed with the most grace and integrity as possible for these patients.
I thank you in advance for your kindness in helping our family. We will continue to pay it forward!
Sincerely,
The Hickson Family
Earlier this year my father, Doug Hickson, was diagnosed with Huntington's Disease, which we were aware runs in our family. Unfortunately, that was not explaining my father's left side weakness. We were hopeful that it was just a back problem that would be fixed with surgery. With much devastation we were informed otherwise. It is ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. This is a terminal illness that gives most people 5 years to live. Living with this illness is a huge struggle as it slowly debilitates you. Working from the limbs in towards the body. It shuts down the neurons in your brain and your muscles quickly deteriorate. This makes life very challenging doing the easiest of tasks. Therefore, this disease has taken over his quality of life very quickly. He has lost most of his mobility and struggles to breath or cough up excess phlegm, making the common cold a major problem. He relys on a motorized wheelchair, that has been made specifically for him, including other equipement such as lifts and respiratory machines. More equipment will be needed for him to survive, most likely, in the very near future.
As a family, we made the choice to move in together so we can help with his care as well as my mothers. She also deals with her own disease. She has Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and was diagnosed 12 years ago. She was forced to go on long term disability from her job as an Emergency Nurse. She had been fortunate in her disease as we know it could be much worse. With the added stress of my father's illness it has exacerbated her own.
I am an only child of two of the strongest, kindest and giving people I know. They have taught me to be the best person I can be while giving back to those in need. The only way I can repay them for my blessed life is to be there when they need me most!
I am very grateful to have an amazing spouse to help with the struggles we face and battle them together one day at a time. There is undeniable stress, frustration and anger that results from these circumstances however, I know that we are not alone. Having two pre-teen children has been such a godsend, for more reasons than one. They are so helpful and strong. I don't know how we would cope without them, especially with their assisstance in helping out their baby sister.
The only thing missing is the funding to help my father live to the fulliest of his capabilities and enjoy his family with the time he has left.
This is where you come in! I am asking for your help through donations that will help to buy equipement, supplies and planned outtings that my father wants to do before he dies. His most recent request is to go to a Blue Jays game and The Ripleys Aquarium in Toronto. These may seem small to some but with everything else costing us money it is hard to find "extra" money to spend on our families time together. I wish to make lasting memories for all of us to share. As he is unable to do any big travels, it is my hope to get him out as much as possible.
I also want to give back to the The ALS Clinic at McMaster Hospital and the ALS Society who have been so good to us through all of this. They are an amazing outsorce of information, support and guidance at such a difficult time in peoples lives. I could not be more grateful for all of their help. I would love to be able to give back and help the ALS community and families affected by similar circumstances. It is not easy but it can be managed with the most grace and integrity as possible for these patients.
I thank you in advance for your kindness in helping our family. We will continue to pay it forward!
Sincerely,
The Hickson Family