Well today I got a new motorized electric wheel chair. I am happy is some ways, but unhappy in other ways.
Although it will be good way to get around, I fear that people will look at me..knowing I can't talk..and they will think I am stupid and either ask questions to my wife or completely ignore me.
But it is a bonus, as I fall down even more these days( trip on my own feet) It will keep me safe.
Atring and I are going on Wednesday to take a look at automobiles and vans that are built for handicapped people ( I guess I am that).
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!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wisdom..I Hope
It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.
- Abraham Lincoln
You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.
- Abraham Lincoln
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have" -- Thomas Jefferson
Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery.
- Dr. Joyce Brothers
The late Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931 – 2005
"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.""Love is among the most pernicious and contagious of diseases. We who are afflicted with it can be detected by anyone. Dark circles under our eyes show that we never sleep, kept awake night after night by embraces or their absence. We suffer from devastating fevers and have an irresistible urge to say stupid things.
"Love can be induced by dropping a pinch of loveme with feigned casualness into a cup of coffee or soup, or a drink. It can induced by not prevented. Holy water does not prevent it, nor ground up host, and a clove of garlic is absolutely useless. Love is deaf to the divine Word and to witches spells. No government decree has any power over it nor can any potion prevent it, although women in the market hawk infallible brews complete with guarantees."
--Eduardo Galeano in the Book of Embraces
'I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,'
Voltaire may not have said this, but he believed these words in action and in all the speeches he made . He lived from 1694-1778
God grant met the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.
- Steven Weinberg
The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government; they have only a talent for getting and holding office.
- H. L. Mencken
- Abraham Lincoln
You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.
- Abraham Lincoln
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have" -- Thomas Jefferson
Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery.
- Dr. Joyce Brothers
The late Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931 – 2005
"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.""Love is among the most pernicious and contagious of diseases. We who are afflicted with it can be detected by anyone. Dark circles under our eyes show that we never sleep, kept awake night after night by embraces or their absence. We suffer from devastating fevers and have an irresistible urge to say stupid things.
"Love can be induced by dropping a pinch of loveme with feigned casualness into a cup of coffee or soup, or a drink. It can induced by not prevented. Holy water does not prevent it, nor ground up host, and a clove of garlic is absolutely useless. Love is deaf to the divine Word and to witches spells. No government decree has any power over it nor can any potion prevent it, although women in the market hawk infallible brews complete with guarantees."
--Eduardo Galeano in the Book of Embraces
'I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,'
Voltaire may not have said this, but he believed these words in action and in all the speeches he made . He lived from 1694-1778
God grant met the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.
- Steven Weinberg
The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government; they have only a talent for getting and holding office.
- H. L. Mencken
Monday, January 26, 2009
Carlsbad Marathon
CARLSBAD ---- It was a contest of happy shout-outs for relatives, friends and good causes Sunday on the periphery of the annual Carlsbad Marathon.
"I like to think my daddy's going to win and share his medal with me," said 4-year-old Patrick Rainey of Coronado, whose sister Leslie, 24, had traveled from Baltimore to race alongside their dad Joe.
The family was among nearly 10,000 runners completing the marathon and half marathon races.
Josh Spiker of Ventura finished first in the marathon, completing the 26.2-mile race in 2 hours, 24 minutes, 56 seconds. Shawna Wilskey of Burlington, Wash., was the top woman in 3:01:17. The half marathon winners were Wesley Korir (1:02:45), and Jane Kibii (1:12:26).
Thousands of fans lined the race route before daylight, quickly filling up hundreds of parking spaces at the Westfield shopping mall in Carlsbad to cheer. The mall's shopping carts proved handy for the "On a Roll for a Cure" team for wheelchair-bound Charles Cook of Rancho Penasquitos, who lost his ability to walk and talk because of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
About midway through the marathon, as family members and friends were taking turns pushing the wheelchair, the front wheels broke, said his son, Richard Cook of San Diego.
"We found a shopping cart, removed the wheels to replace the broken wheels, and they were back in the marathon," Cook said.
The western end of the mall's parking lot was filled with music stages and tents containing equipment, clothing and food. Official Carlsbad Marathon T-shirts were popular sellers "after we lowered our prices to $10 because of the economy," said Pat Flanagan of San Marcos, an employee of event organizer In Motion Inc.
This year, the event benefited 17 charities through fundraising and awareness events.
Kim Matilla of Los Angeles was among a crowd of 20 wearing "Bring It!" T-shirts to match those of 40 runners who had traveled from Los Angeles and Bakersfield to race in memory of Dominic Ambriz.
"He was one of my closest friends," Matilla said of the native of Bakersfield, an avid marathon runner and toy maker for Mattel in Los Angeles.
Matilla said the words "bring it" had become Ambriz's slogan after undergoing his first rounds of chemotherapy for brain cancer before his death last year at the age of 28.
Lauren McGraw of Carlsbad was cheering for an international team of 60 runners from the United States, Costa Rica and the Republic of Kenya ---- all wearing "Heart for Africa" T-shirts.
McGraw said this is the second year the nonprofit organization entered the marathon to raise money for the poor in Africa.
"This year we're running for a shelter and a well that will go to Swaziland," McGraw said. "We've raised $26,000 just for this race. It's awesome."
"I like to think my daddy's going to win and share his medal with me," said 4-year-old Patrick Rainey of Coronado, whose sister Leslie, 24, had traveled from Baltimore to race alongside their dad Joe.
The family was among nearly 10,000 runners completing the marathon and half marathon races.
Josh Spiker of Ventura finished first in the marathon, completing the 26.2-mile race in 2 hours, 24 minutes, 56 seconds. Shawna Wilskey of Burlington, Wash., was the top woman in 3:01:17. The half marathon winners were Wesley Korir (1:02:45), and Jane Kibii (1:12:26).
Thousands of fans lined the race route before daylight, quickly filling up hundreds of parking spaces at the Westfield shopping mall in Carlsbad to cheer. The mall's shopping carts proved handy for the "On a Roll for a Cure" team for wheelchair-bound Charles Cook of Rancho Penasquitos, who lost his ability to walk and talk because of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
About midway through the marathon, as family members and friends were taking turns pushing the wheelchair, the front wheels broke, said his son, Richard Cook of San Diego.
"We found a shopping cart, removed the wheels to replace the broken wheels, and they were back in the marathon," Cook said.
The western end of the mall's parking lot was filled with music stages and tents containing equipment, clothing and food. Official Carlsbad Marathon T-shirts were popular sellers "after we lowered our prices to $10 because of the economy," said Pat Flanagan of San Marcos, an employee of event organizer In Motion Inc.
This year, the event benefited 17 charities through fundraising and awareness events.
Kim Matilla of Los Angeles was among a crowd of 20 wearing "Bring It!" T-shirts to match those of 40 runners who had traveled from Los Angeles and Bakersfield to race in memory of Dominic Ambriz.
"He was one of my closest friends," Matilla said of the native of Bakersfield, an avid marathon runner and toy maker for Mattel in Los Angeles.
Matilla said the words "bring it" had become Ambriz's slogan after undergoing his first rounds of chemotherapy for brain cancer before his death last year at the age of 28.
Lauren McGraw of Carlsbad was cheering for an international team of 60 runners from the United States, Costa Rica and the Republic of Kenya ---- all wearing "Heart for Africa" T-shirts.
McGraw said this is the second year the nonprofit organization entered the marathon to raise money for the poor in Africa.
"This year we're running for a shelter and a well that will go to Swaziland," McGraw said. "We've raised $26,000 just for this race. It's awesome."
Hot Chocolate
I found this on the internet and liked it so it is here....
“A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired.
During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives.
Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups — porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite. He then told them all to help themselves to the hot chocolate. When they each had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said:
"Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress."
"The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink."
"What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup... but you consciously went for the BEST cups."
"And then you began eyeing each other's cups."
"Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life."
"The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate."
The happiest people don't need the best of everything.
They just make the best of everything that they have.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
…and enjoy your hot chocolate!!
“A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired.
During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives.
Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups — porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite. He then told them all to help themselves to the hot chocolate. When they each had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said:
"Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress."
"The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink."
"What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup... but you consciously went for the BEST cups."
"And then you began eyeing each other's cups."
"Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life."
"The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate."
The happiest people don't need the best of everything.
They just make the best of everything that they have.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
…and enjoy your hot chocolate!!
Roll For a Cure
Sunday Morning we went to the Carlsbad Marathon. Atring got me up at 3:00 AM to get me ready for my part in the Roll For A Cure ALS fundraiser. She bundled me up and waited for Rick and Eileen who so graciously gave us a ride to the Marathon. We got there about 4:30 AM and I found Renee and the Van who was waiting for me. I jumped (not really) into the chair which had been designed with long handlebars on each side at the back for ease of pushing. That way to people can push the wheelchair for an extended period, or runners can push it more easily.
Nevertheless, Rick and Rudy accompanied by Peter, Nathan and of course Eileen, took me to the starting line of the Marathon. Tom Courtney, the director of the ALS Association for San Diego met me there. We listened to the announcer and a young lady sang the National Anthem, and then we were off. Rudy and Rick pushed and Peter and Nathan were standing by for their turn. They pushed me about a mile and a third to the ALS headquarters for this run. As soon as I got there I was met by 3 Carlsbad High School Cross Country athletes, who immediately grabbed me and started running. It was great. We hadn't gotten very far when lo and behold, the front left wheel on the wheelchair went flat. Or the rubber had separated from the spokes. I thought at first we were sunk. They managed to get me and the wheelchair back to the "headquarters." The brain trust of guys that were there started thinking. Lacking spare wheels (who would have thunk) they finally decided that shopping cart wheels should work. In less than ten minutes there were three shopping carts there. And in less than ten minutes they had two wheels off the shopping cart and put on the wheelchair. I was amazed, but I realized that years before I would have been there doing the same type thing.I was always in the middle of taking things apart and trying to put them back together.
Anyway, I was loaded in the wheelchair, loaded into the van and driven to where the next set of runners were to meet me. At about the 4 and a half mar on the course,a new set of runners from Santana had taken there places and running with me. We were moving at a good clip, averaging 9 minute miles. I was impressed with the runners. We went up hills, and down, passing other runners who were going steadily but more slowly. They ran until the 12 mile mark, when three more runners took there place, and they took off. At the the 16 mile mark or so, Rick was waiting to change places with me. I got out of the wheelchair and they transferred Rick from his wheelchair to the special race wheelchair. And off he went. I was transported back to headquarters. We waited for Rick and his group of pushers to come by. And sure enough he came in accompanied by kids from the Boys and Girls Club of East County. We switched chairs and I was being pushed by the same boys and girls to the finish line. At about 100 yards prior to the finish, I got out of the wheelchair, grabbed my cane and supported by my son Rick made for the finish. It was hard to walk cause I am losing my balance big time now. But I made it. The rousing welcome we got when we got there was truly amazing. I was proud to represent the ALS PALS in this marathon.
The boys finally got me home, and I was tired. The early morning rise, the excitement, and the exercise had worn me out. But Rick, Peter and Nathan spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with me. We talked about books, sports, beer, you name it, and we talked. It was great. I loved it.
What a fantastic day, and I owe it to my wonderful wife, super sons, the ALS Association and all the volunteers who give so unselfishly for the Association.
It was a super day!!!
Nevertheless, Rick and Rudy accompanied by Peter, Nathan and of course Eileen, took me to the starting line of the Marathon. Tom Courtney, the director of the ALS Association for San Diego met me there. We listened to the announcer and a young lady sang the National Anthem, and then we were off. Rudy and Rick pushed and Peter and Nathan were standing by for their turn. They pushed me about a mile and a third to the ALS headquarters for this run. As soon as I got there I was met by 3 Carlsbad High School Cross Country athletes, who immediately grabbed me and started running. It was great. We hadn't gotten very far when lo and behold, the front left wheel on the wheelchair went flat. Or the rubber had separated from the spokes. I thought at first we were sunk. They managed to get me and the wheelchair back to the "headquarters." The brain trust of guys that were there started thinking. Lacking spare wheels (who would have thunk) they finally decided that shopping cart wheels should work. In less than ten minutes there were three shopping carts there. And in less than ten minutes they had two wheels off the shopping cart and put on the wheelchair. I was amazed, but I realized that years before I would have been there doing the same type thing.I was always in the middle of taking things apart and trying to put them back together.
Anyway, I was loaded in the wheelchair, loaded into the van and driven to where the next set of runners were to meet me. At about the 4 and a half mar on the course,a new set of runners from Santana had taken there places and running with me. We were moving at a good clip, averaging 9 minute miles. I was impressed with the runners. We went up hills, and down, passing other runners who were going steadily but more slowly. They ran until the 12 mile mark, when three more runners took there place, and they took off. At the the 16 mile mark or so, Rick was waiting to change places with me. I got out of the wheelchair and they transferred Rick from his wheelchair to the special race wheelchair. And off he went. I was transported back to headquarters. We waited for Rick and his group of pushers to come by. And sure enough he came in accompanied by kids from the Boys and Girls Club of East County. We switched chairs and I was being pushed by the same boys and girls to the finish line. At about 100 yards prior to the finish, I got out of the wheelchair, grabbed my cane and supported by my son Rick made for the finish. It was hard to walk cause I am losing my balance big time now. But I made it. The rousing welcome we got when we got there was truly amazing. I was proud to represent the ALS PALS in this marathon.
The boys finally got me home, and I was tired. The early morning rise, the excitement, and the exercise had worn me out. But Rick, Peter and Nathan spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with me. We talked about books, sports, beer, you name it, and we talked. It was great. I loved it.
What a fantastic day, and I owe it to my wonderful wife, super sons, the ALS Association and all the volunteers who give so unselfishly for the Association.
It was a super day!!!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Time Magazine Article Dec 2008
Time Magazine Recognizes ALS Stem Cell Research as No. 1 Medical Breakthrough in 2008
Time magazine has named the creation of motor neurons using ordinary skins cells from people with ALS as the No. 1 medical breakthrough in 2008. The research was reported last summer by The ALS Association.
“Researchers at Harvard and Columbia reported a milestone experiment in July, using a new method — one that doesn't require embryos at all — to generate the first motor neurons from stem cells in two elderly women with Lou Gehrig's disease, or ALS,” wrote Alice Park in the magazines Top 10 Everything of 2008 issue published in December.
“The technique, developed by Kyoto University scientist Shinya Yamanaka in 2006, involves reprogramming a patient's ordinary skin cells to behave like stem cells, then coaxing them into the desired tissue-specific cells,” continued Park. “Using the motor neurons created from ALS patients, scientists can now study the progress of the disease as the affected cells develop, degenerate and die in a dish — something researchers could never do before for such slow-moving conditions. Once scientists understand the development of ALS, they may be able to create more effective treatments, or perhaps even a cure.”
Time magazine has named the creation of motor neurons using ordinary skins cells from people with ALS as the No. 1 medical breakthrough in 2008. The research was reported last summer by The ALS Association.
“Researchers at Harvard and Columbia reported a milestone experiment in July, using a new method — one that doesn't require embryos at all — to generate the first motor neurons from stem cells in two elderly women with Lou Gehrig's disease, or ALS,” wrote Alice Park in the magazines Top 10 Everything of 2008 issue published in December.
“The technique, developed by Kyoto University scientist Shinya Yamanaka in 2006, involves reprogramming a patient's ordinary skin cells to behave like stem cells, then coaxing them into the desired tissue-specific cells,” continued Park. “Using the motor neurons created from ALS patients, scientists can now study the progress of the disease as the affected cells develop, degenerate and die in a dish — something researchers could never do before for such slow-moving conditions. Once scientists understand the development of ALS, they may be able to create more effective treatments, or perhaps even a cure.”
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Looking Back at 2008
I was thinking today (I know that is hard for some to fathom) about the key things that happened to the people with ALS in 2008.
"Time" and "Newsweek" magazines both carried significant stories about ALS. Remember ALS is considered an orphan disease because so few of us get it. I don't necessarily agree with that, but I will let them say it. "Time" ran a story about how they are using stem cell research from people's skin, and trying to understand how ALS works. I think that is significant. If they can figure out how it works, what it does...they might be able to cure it. My hope and dream. At least one of them.
The VA announced on September 23 that ALS is now a service connected disease. That opens up the door to all the VA has to offer, which is very significant. Now to get through the red tape and paperwork the VA makes you fill out before getting benefits.
And finally Congress passed the ALS Registry act. What this does is gets everyone with ALS on a roll,and that way their is one central data point for them to collect information from the PALS.
I am thankful for all that. There is more to be done. But I am thankful......
"Time" and "Newsweek" magazines both carried significant stories about ALS. Remember ALS is considered an orphan disease because so few of us get it. I don't necessarily agree with that, but I will let them say it. "Time" ran a story about how they are using stem cell research from people's skin, and trying to understand how ALS works. I think that is significant. If they can figure out how it works, what it does...they might be able to cure it. My hope and dream. At least one of them.
The VA announced on September 23 that ALS is now a service connected disease. That opens up the door to all the VA has to offer, which is very significant. Now to get through the red tape and paperwork the VA makes you fill out before getting benefits.
And finally Congress passed the ALS Registry act. What this does is gets everyone with ALS on a roll,and that way their is one central data point for them to collect information from the PALS.
I am thankful for all that. There is more to be done. But I am thankful......
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