This Geezer Jock Pushes on Thanks To You

This is Cupcake. She is part of my team. Geezer Jocks are also a big part of the team because of the stories of resilience you share.  I'm taking the opportunity here to say how much you help others, like me. 

By Ray Glier

I'm not doing this by myself. It's impossible to deal with this disease by yourself. I have a team, led by my wife and two boys. It includes my family spread out across the country. I'm one of 11 kids, so it is quite a tribe.

And...there are you Geezer Jocks. You tell me your stories of overcoming long odds and it gives me hope I can turn this into a chronic disease.

My team also includes the sports psychologist Dr. Megan Neyer, who was once the best diver in the world. It includes the kinesiologist Dr. Henry Jacobs, and his wisdom with alternative medicine. It includes the staff at the ALS Clinic in Augusta and Synapticure, a third-party neurology group started by a federal prosecutor in Chicago who was stricken with the disease at 36. 

And there is Cupcake, a 5 1/2-year old Labrador we adopted in January.

There are friends who routinely check in, even though I sometimes push them away because of extreme fatigue issues.

June 6, which just passed, and the sacrifice of the boys on the beaches keeps me from self-pity. 

So my breathing has improved the last two exams with the Healys Clinical Trial Platform F. My swallowing has improved. The disease can plateau and then take off, but it's healthier to have no expectations either way. Just be present.

So please keep supporting Geezer Jock. I almost quit the newsletter this week because interviews take a lot out of me and my arm gets numb and I thought my writing wasn't any good. It's never been any good, so that's a lame excuse.

Sportswriting is my identity and Geezer Jocks give me purpose. I'll stay for a while longer.

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