Atring took me to the doctor today to have a Peg inserted in my stomach. To say I was filled with trepidation is an understatement. But the hospital was very professional, and the doctor was good. I was out like a light...the surgery took about 15-20 minutes, and I was home before you know it. I am sore, but that is to be expected. I definitely recommend it to people who are not sure what to do. It isn't that bad, and it can only help you.
I read a lot of emails from other ALS patients, and some are against getting the Peg or the Vent. I am not sure why. But I know I want to live as long as possible and enjoy my wonderful family...avoid being a burden...and living in the beautiful world.
Thanks for reading...and when you get a chance....Tell Atring what a wonderful person she is..She really Is....
Carlsbad Marathon Roll For a Cure Jan 25, 2009
My Family- The greatest
The Cook Men at Thanksgiving
ALS Team Walk At Mission Bay October, 2008
Our ALS Walk was fantastic, the team was fantastic!
My Pogi Sons
Peter, Rick, Nathan, and Tito- the greatest sons a man could have!
The family
Having Fun during Fathers Day!!
Rod, Chuck and Steve in Millington Tennessee August 2008
The Cook boys at it again 2008. Rod and Steve are awesome brothers.
Chuck and Atring
Together Forever. The Love of my Life!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
How I feel
Today I go to the doctor to get a follow up on my Pneumonia. Atring insisted. I honestly do not know what would happen to me if it wasn't for her. She is the very best!!!
I feel so helpless sometimes. I cannot walk fast. I remember how people use to run to catch up with me. Now I can walk, but I feel the weakness in my legs, and use the cane to keep my balance, mostly. But the inability to talk intelligibly is the greatest drawback. I have a lot to say, and I am not stupid. The tendency for a person who hears one who cannot talk well is to shine him on. Trust me, I get so frustrated when I try to talk...and even the whiteboard I use does not convey the emotion I want...or the concern....or the thankfulness.
The other big problem...not so bad, but embarrassing, The laughing and crying. With ALS you somehow lose the ability to control your laugh or crying...your emotions. I find myself smiling at things that are very serious. And by the same token I find myself crying at the smallest heart rendering scene or thought. Oh well. So far I have kept that out of the public view.
Well,as I used to say years ago..I keep on trucking!!
I feel so helpless sometimes. I cannot walk fast. I remember how people use to run to catch up with me. Now I can walk, but I feel the weakness in my legs, and use the cane to keep my balance, mostly. But the inability to talk intelligibly is the greatest drawback. I have a lot to say, and I am not stupid. The tendency for a person who hears one who cannot talk well is to shine him on. Trust me, I get so frustrated when I try to talk...and even the whiteboard I use does not convey the emotion I want...or the concern....or the thankfulness.
The other big problem...not so bad, but embarrassing, The laughing and crying. With ALS you somehow lose the ability to control your laugh or crying...your emotions. I find myself smiling at things that are very serious. And by the same token I find myself crying at the smallest heart rendering scene or thought. Oh well. So far I have kept that out of the public view.
Well,as I used to say years ago..I keep on trucking!!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Thai and Tracy
Thai and Tracy came on Saturday to visit Atring and I. They brought their two sons Anthony (6 yrs) and Andy (2 Yrs). Both of the kids are great!! Thai told me they were shocked when they heard I had ALS. They said they didn't know what it was, but they looked it up on the internet.
I tried to tell them how I felt, but my voice has been declining rapidly for the last month, and they had a hard time understanding me. I treasured their visit. They both worked for me..or shall I say, we worked together at Qualcomm/Kyocera. Thai was the best technician I had ever me. He was very quick troubleshooter, and very accurate. I valued having him on my team. Tracy was also a great tech. But she was also a good leader, and I relied on her to get things done. She never failed me. They both promised they would see me again. I look forward to it.
On another note...Thursday, I am to go in and have a feeding tube inserted. I had gone to the doctor last week, and I evidently had a touch of pneumonia. I was precribed some medications, which seem to have worked. To say I am apprehensive about the operation is an understatement. But I really have no choice. I want to get this done before it becomes and emergency, and while I am still strong. However, I do not relish anyone cutting on me. Nevertheless, I have little choice. As Tracy told me before she left....Be Strong, Chuck.
OK..I will try my best!!
I tried to tell them how I felt, but my voice has been declining rapidly for the last month, and they had a hard time understanding me. I treasured their visit. They both worked for me..or shall I say, we worked together at Qualcomm/Kyocera. Thai was the best technician I had ever me. He was very quick troubleshooter, and very accurate. I valued having him on my team. Tracy was also a great tech. But she was also a good leader, and I relied on her to get things done. She never failed me. They both promised they would see me again. I look forward to it.
On another note...Thursday, I am to go in and have a feeding tube inserted. I had gone to the doctor last week, and I evidently had a touch of pneumonia. I was precribed some medications, which seem to have worked. To say I am apprehensive about the operation is an understatement. But I really have no choice. I want to get this done before it becomes and emergency, and while I am still strong. However, I do not relish anyone cutting on me. Nevertheless, I have little choice. As Tracy told me before she left....Be Strong, Chuck.
OK..I will try my best!!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
ALS Walk
Well here I am again. Went to the ALS Association, and registered my team for the ALS Walk on Oct 19, 2008. I named my team Chuck's Volunteers.
I am always hesitant to ask for money for anything...I never was a very good salesman.
However..I do believe in this. Number one...the ALS Association does a lot of good. They are friends and problem solvers to those of us with ALS. Doctors tell us what to do, advise us, diagnose us. The ALS Association listens to us. They know what we are going through, and are always trying to help.
Also...raising money for a cure. I am not so sure they will find a cure in my lifetime. I am praying, but I am realistic. I know that research takes years. Oh well. But I do want to help someone else who might be going through what I am in the future.
Also..it gives me something positive to look forward too.
Anyway..we will try to raise money...
I am always hesitant to ask for money for anything...I never was a very good salesman.
However..I do believe in this. Number one...the ALS Association does a lot of good. They are friends and problem solvers to those of us with ALS. Doctors tell us what to do, advise us, diagnose us. The ALS Association listens to us. They know what we are going through, and are always trying to help.
Also...raising money for a cure. I am not so sure they will find a cure in my lifetime. I am praying, but I am realistic. I know that research takes years. Oh well. But I do want to help someone else who might be going through what I am in the future.
Also..it gives me something positive to look forward too.
Anyway..we will try to raise money...
Friday, September 5, 2008
Family Reunion
Well.
I have been pretty busy lately. My son Peter planned and executed a family reunion for us. He got me and my wife tickets to Little Rock where we were met by my brother Rod and his wonderful wife Gwen. He drove us back to Millington where he lives. He recently bought a house right by the high school we graduated from so many years ago. My brother Steve and his wonderful wife Peggy was there to greet us. He had come down from Evansville, Indiana. Later on that week my Aunt Phyllis and Aunt Sharon from Fort Wayne, Indiana visited. And then MY Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Chuck from Baltimore, Md. visited. It was all fantastic. My cousin Luann was also there. I always enjoy seeing her.
We had a great time that week. I have a lot of problems speaking due to theALS and BUlbar Onset..however Leslie bought me a small whiteboard that I used to convet brief thoughts when the words I said were unintelligible. Thanks a lot, it helped tremendously.
We had a big barbecue Friday night and earlier Friday a friend of mine from the Navy that I had known like forever, but had not seen in over 20 years came down from St Louis. Jose and his wife Karen were kind enough to spend the day with me. Jose and I talked for hours. He was truly the inspiration for my career in the Navy. He was like a brother, and the best friend I ever had.
Well later that night, my brother Rod, in his infinite wisdom, put some music on that we could dance to. It was great. I love to dance, and my wife will dance at the drop of a hat. My legs fwlt weak cause of the ALS...and I danced a first with trepidation...thinking a might fall and emabrass myself. But after that i Just danced...and sweated and had a great time.
The evening ended late...some of the visitors leaving to go home.
But I will never forget that wonderful week.
Rod, my bro, is a Nuclear Engineer, and graduate of The University of Tennessee. He is smart, very smart, dedicated and a wonderful brother. He is a dedicated Republican, to a fault...but that is ok. He is kind and generous and very loving. He was lucky when he found Gwen, but they are good for each other.
Steve, my other bro, is also a wonderful guy. He spent 8 years in the Navy after high school, and then went to work in the technical field of computers and data storage. He is very smart, dedicated, and a good worker. He has three wonderful children...Steve..a Sgt in the Marines, Kathy, a mother of three, and Chad...who is a newlywed about to become a father. I am lucky to know them all.
Take care..another post will come soon.
I have been pretty busy lately. My son Peter planned and executed a family reunion for us. He got me and my wife tickets to Little Rock where we were met by my brother Rod and his wonderful wife Gwen. He drove us back to Millington where he lives. He recently bought a house right by the high school we graduated from so many years ago. My brother Steve and his wonderful wife Peggy was there to greet us. He had come down from Evansville, Indiana. Later on that week my Aunt Phyllis and Aunt Sharon from Fort Wayne, Indiana visited. And then MY Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Chuck from Baltimore, Md. visited. It was all fantastic. My cousin Luann was also there. I always enjoy seeing her.
We had a great time that week. I have a lot of problems speaking due to theALS and BUlbar Onset..however Leslie bought me a small whiteboard that I used to convet brief thoughts when the words I said were unintelligible. Thanks a lot, it helped tremendously.
We had a big barbecue Friday night and earlier Friday a friend of mine from the Navy that I had known like forever, but had not seen in over 20 years came down from St Louis. Jose and his wife Karen were kind enough to spend the day with me. Jose and I talked for hours. He was truly the inspiration for my career in the Navy. He was like a brother, and the best friend I ever had.
Well later that night, my brother Rod, in his infinite wisdom, put some music on that we could dance to. It was great. I love to dance, and my wife will dance at the drop of a hat. My legs fwlt weak cause of the ALS...and I danced a first with trepidation...thinking a might fall and emabrass myself. But after that i Just danced...and sweated and had a great time.
The evening ended late...some of the visitors leaving to go home.
But I will never forget that wonderful week.
Rod, my bro, is a Nuclear Engineer, and graduate of The University of Tennessee. He is smart, very smart, dedicated and a wonderful brother. He is a dedicated Republican, to a fault...but that is ok. He is kind and generous and very loving. He was lucky when he found Gwen, but they are good for each other.
Steve, my other bro, is also a wonderful guy. He spent 8 years in the Navy after high school, and then went to work in the technical field of computers and data storage. He is very smart, dedicated, and a good worker. He has three wonderful children...Steve..a Sgt in the Marines, Kathy, a mother of three, and Chad...who is a newlywed about to become a father. I am lucky to know them all.
Take care..another post will come soon.
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