My son, Sam Cassidy, was diagnosed with ALS last year, at 26 years old. As with everyone else in this situation, it comes as a complete shock, and one that takes some time to fully digest. Sam’s first symptoms were having slurred speech and losing grip in one hand. He continued to work fulltime until he was forced to go on disability two months later. He has a fast-progressing form of ALS and just one year later he cannot speak, or walk or use either hand, resulting in him needing care to do just about everything. He recently had a feeding tube put in to help prevent any more weight loss.
As his mother, to say I am heartbroken would be an understatement. There simply are no words to describe the pain a parent feels to see their child suffering with this cruel disease.
Sam is the youngest of my 7 children, and his siblings, like me, cannot say enough about his tremendous determination and perseverance in trying to navigate his ever-changing daily life. Sam was an avid gamer and Twitch streamer for years. He has a passion for movies, especially superhero films, and his favorite Trilogy is Lord Of The Rings. He loves his four cats and his rabbit. He is one of the kindest, most caring human beings I know. I’m extremely proud of this young man and how he never complains about the many struggles he encounters daily.