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“ALS: Anyone’s
  Life Story”
May 2007
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MDA’s ALS Division introduces you to 31 people  - one each day for the month of May - who are living with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease). 

This series was inspired by Augie Nieto, ALS Division Co-Chairperson, who says that since his ALS diagnosis, instead of striving for success, his goal each day is to be significant.

In their own words, otherwise “ordinary” people describe the impact of living with a progressive, incurable and deadly disease. But their stories also tell how ALS has brought new significance to their lives in ways that you might not expect. 

ALS can become anyone’s life story. Please join MDA’s world-leading effort to stop it. 

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Read other stories by clicking the date on the calendar.
Catherine Wolf

Name: Catherine Wolf

City, State: Katonah, NY

Age: 59

Family:
Husband - Joel
Daughters – Erika (30) and Laura (26)
Grandson – Ellis (six months)

Hobbies/Interests: Writing poetry, politics, helping other PALS (People with ALS) and cats,

Date of ALS diagnosis: September, 1997

Life before ALS: I worked at the IBM Thomas J Watson Research Center in the area of human-computer interaction.  I was very invested in my work.  I was quit active – taking modern dance and ballet, running fifteen miles per week, gardening and cooking.

Life with ALS: I am a quadriplegic and ventilator dependant.  I spend most of my waking hours at my computer – keeping in touch with family and friends by e-mail, writing poetry (some of which has appeared in the MDA ALS news magazine and Neurology Now), writing articles for Neurology Now, posting on patientslikeme.com, helping PALS and participating in politics by writing letters and signing petitions.

How has ALS brought new significance to your life: I didn’t really write poetry before going on long term disability.  I found I have more strength and optimism in the face of adversity than I knew I had.  Living with ALS has made me realize life is short with the consequence that I am bolder in fighting for what’s right, appreciate friends and family more, value laughter and to quote a poem of mine “most of all, I am not afraid to say I love you.”
 
Read more about Catherine Wolf :

Insurance Claims: Don't Take 'No' for an Answer (MDA/ALS Newsmagazine: April 2006 volume 11 no.: 4)
'Second Life' Leads to Poetry (MDA/ALS Newsmagazine January 2007 volume 12 no.: 1)
 
 
 
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