Ok, I have to admit, I NEVER thought I would be able to complete this course without some serious difficulty, writer's block, carple tunnel, etc. I thoroughly enjoyed this class even though it kept me up most nights typing and typing and changing things around. It was endless! I have to say I certainly learned so many things about writing and about myself that I would have never know without crossing Dr. Chandler's path. Thank you Dr. Chandler for being understanding, critical if need be, allowing me to feel involved and being able to not "poo poo" my ideas, but instead helping me through the things I needed to work on.
My plans as a writer? I will write and write and write all the time now, whether it be for work, school or merely for fun or to get my feelings out on paper. Its truly something I never knew I even had until I tried. Im excited about it and learned an awful lot about many different things.
Thank you...
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Blog 9 - Literary Journalism Prewriting
Lisa Rotella
Literary Journalism
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
May 7, 2006, just some of my extended family and my Aunt JoAnn not even one year ago my aunt was sitting in her wheelchair strickened with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Her body completely controlled by broken down neurons in the nerve cells located in the brain and spinal cord.
Her family surrounds her as we “Walk to D’Feet ALS” last May in her honor. Brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins all in this fight together. This situation was one that affected our whole family. Each member whether it be a close sister or distant cousin was affected by this horrific disease. We all walked tall and proud with our heads held high and our signs telling our tale. Uncle Bill pushed Aunt JoAnn as she was in the middle and her supporters surrounded her completely. We were just so thrilled that she was able to make it there as the night before was not a good one. She was slipping away slowly and we were her team trying to route her on. Seemed like an endless marathon that there was just no finish line to. Our team alone collected over $4500 for the association so are heads were high and This May we will be walking in her memory as ALS has since taken her life.
This disease is a life threatening neurodegenerative disease where you progressively lose nervous control of voluntary muscle systems by the destruction of motor neurons in the nerve cells.
At the young age of 65 Aunt JoAnn started some trouble with her hands as she was diagnosed at that point with arthritis. She was a seamstress and extremely talented with knitting and crocheting so arthritis seemed to be an acceptable condition given her circumstances.
There was not much time passed as my aunt was noticing some other strange occurrences. She had some swelling around her legs and ankles, as well as, muscle cramps and slurred speech. We all started to pick up on some things that were going on as she just did not seem her normal self. After all, she was the aunt you wanted to sit next to at all the showers and weddings. She was outgoing and fun and the life of the party. She smiled no matter what came her way and lived her life according to the Lord. She was incredible!
She was back and forth to the doctors for quite a while before she had some tell tale signs of ALS. She could no longer eat solid food as her tongue was enlarged and throat was slowly closing in on her. Her diet consisted of baby food and my uncle would puree her food as she was still able to taste. Her speech was getting progressively worsened by this disease and simple breathing became difficult at best.
According to the ALS Association New York Chapter the symptoms of ALS include muscle weekness, decrease in muscle coordination and mass, loss of tissue due to lack of nervous stimulation, possible paralysis, muscle cramps, voice impairment like hoarseness.
Literary Journalism
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
May 7, 2006, just some of my extended family and my Aunt JoAnn not even one year ago my aunt was sitting in her wheelchair strickened with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Her body completely controlled by broken down neurons in the nerve cells located in the brain and spinal cord.
Her family surrounds her as we “Walk to D’Feet ALS” last May in her honor. Brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins all in this fight together. This situation was one that affected our whole family. Each member whether it be a close sister or distant cousin was affected by this horrific disease. We all walked tall and proud with our heads held high and our signs telling our tale. Uncle Bill pushed Aunt JoAnn as she was in the middle and her supporters surrounded her completely. We were just so thrilled that she was able to make it there as the night before was not a good one. She was slipping away slowly and we were her team trying to route her on. Seemed like an endless marathon that there was just no finish line to. Our team alone collected over $4500 for the association so are heads were high and This May we will be walking in her memory as ALS has since taken her life.
This disease is a life threatening neurodegenerative disease where you progressively lose nervous control of voluntary muscle systems by the destruction of motor neurons in the nerve cells.
At the young age of 65 Aunt JoAnn started some trouble with her hands as she was diagnosed at that point with arthritis. She was a seamstress and extremely talented with knitting and crocheting so arthritis seemed to be an acceptable condition given her circumstances.
There was not much time passed as my aunt was noticing some other strange occurrences. She had some swelling around her legs and ankles, as well as, muscle cramps and slurred speech. We all started to pick up on some things that were going on as she just did not seem her normal self. After all, she was the aunt you wanted to sit next to at all the showers and weddings. She was outgoing and fun and the life of the party. She smiled no matter what came her way and lived her life according to the Lord. She was incredible!
She was back and forth to the doctors for quite a while before she had some tell tale signs of ALS. She could no longer eat solid food as her tongue was enlarged and throat was slowly closing in on her. Her diet consisted of baby food and my uncle would puree her food as she was still able to taste. Her speech was getting progressively worsened by this disease and simple breathing became difficult at best.
According to the ALS Association New York Chapter the symptoms of ALS include muscle weekness, decrease in muscle coordination and mass, loss of tissue due to lack of nervous stimulation, possible paralysis, muscle cramps, voice impairment like hoarseness.
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