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Name:
Aimee Chamernik
City, State:
Grayslake, Ill.
Age: 37
Family:
Jim (husband)
Nick (son, age 9)
Emily (daughter, age 7)
Zachary (son, age 3)
Hobbies/Interests:
I am a passionate baseball fan and love the St. Louis Cardinals. I enjoy scrapbooking, photography, writing, Sudoku and baking cookies.
Date of ALS diagnosis:
September 8, 2004
Life before ALS:Before ALS, my days were spent at the park, running errands, playing Wiffle ball in the backyard with my kids, making dinner, cleaning house, helping with homework – in short, doing what millions of other wives and mothers do every day. I ran and swam, volunteered in my children’s classes, served on the board of the preschool, taught Sunday School at our church, watched baseball whenever I could and ate too much guacamole.
Life with ALS:My life continues to be fulfilling, though our constant challenge is to maintain a normal routine despite the many obstacles ALS presents. I continue to be as involved as I can be with the kids’ schools and activities, and I do as much housekeeping and errand-running (via the Internet) as possible. I spend a lot of time writing, and I still eat too much guacamole.
How has ALS brought new significance to your life: My ALS diagnosis led me to an intense examination of my purpose in life. My first commitment is to my family – to creating wonderful memories with Jim and our children in the short time I have left, and raising our kids to be loving, compassionate and responsible people. My other commitment is to the ALS community – to doing all I can to ensure that there will be a day when no other families will experience the devastation of an ALS diagnosis by raising awareness and advocating for ALS research and services. |
