Uncle MIke's Surprise
By C.J. Armbruster

It all happened in two years. What happened? Something that affected my entire family. It changed my life forever.
My family consists of a lot of people. I will only mention a few though. There is Uncle Mike, Aunt Becky who have been happily married for 25 years. Their daughter's name is Casey, and their son's name is Wade.
These are the most important people in the story, along with Mom, Grandma, Grandpa , and Me.
The story starts during the winter of the yearof 1999, in Tucson, Arizona.
Uncle Mike was an athletic man, and loved playing golf and softball. One day, he noticed that he was having trouble maneuvering his hand. He decided to go see the doctor. The doctor eaxamined him thorougjhly, and ran some tests, he then sent him to a muscle specialist. This doctor examined him thoroughly, and ran more tests.
Everyone in the family was told about this, except Casey and Me. Casey was struggling to finish high school, so she wasn't told. Nobody wanted her to drop out. I wasn't told,because I could've accidentally told Casey. Everyone else knew. They became impatient. They wantead to know what was wrong immediately.
Then, one day the results came. Thjey told the family that Uncle Mike had a disease. This disease is called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or LOu Gehrig's Disease. Disease in which degeneration of motor neuronms of the spinal cord and brain stem results in progressive muscular atrophy leading to total paralysis...death usually ensures within two to five years, says th Funk and Wagnalls New Encyclopedia. This means that the muscles in his body were going to give out slowly, and he will die.
One night I saw Grandma crying, and Mom hugging her. I didn"t think much of it though. The following Wednesday, at church I heard Mom talking to another member of our church about ALS. I asked her what it was, and she proceeded to tell me about Uncle Mike, and what he would have to go through. Uncle Mike and Aunt Becky told Casey about it after she graduated. She said that she assumed that that's what it was. Now everybody knows, and everyone is taking it a different way.
I am trying to be strong, because crying won't change anything. Mom feels the same way, and keeps saying that we just need to deal with it, because things happen. Grandma and Grandpa are holding on, and getting through it. Casey also seems to be doing okay.
Uncle Mike is currently in a wheelchair, and relies on Aunt Becky for everything. He has lost total mobility in both of his arms and legs. The thing that I will take from this, is the knowledge that anything can happen to evern the best of people, and you just have to deal with it.
It all happened in two year. What happened? Something that affected my entire family. It changed my life forever.

I want to dedicate this paper to the most courageous man I know, and his wife, who helps without needing anything in return, and does her best everyday. I love you both.

Dedicated to

UNCLE MIKE & AUNT BECKY