New Year’s Day; January 1, 2008

New Year’s Day; January 1, 2008
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!

As my precious 5 year old nephew, Prescott, would say, “Happy New Year Everybody!” Most of us get to the end of a year and think “I’m glad that year’s over!” Every day, every month and every year our lives are filled with good things, bad things and ugly things. How we deal with each one of these is the secret to a full and blessed life.

Yes, I have had a lot to deal with in my life (especially the last four years) but so does everyone. We all have our ups, our downs and our sideways but that is the beauty of life. Without sadness how could we appreciate happiness, without cruelty how could we not appreciate mercy, and without hate how could we not know love. Our obligation is to live and I mean truly live, each and every day. I know it sounds like a cliché, but do you really live each day or do you just get through each day waiting for “it” to get better?

Last year was quite a year to say the least. In fact the last four have been beyond imaginable. Prostate cancer, Hepatitis C, 11 months of Hepatitis C treatments and then the diagnosis of ALS in February of 2007 which the doctors think I’ve had for a least a year.

So many things have changed. I had to quit the job the job I loved, helping businesses and owners solve their problems. (Some still call and I still help) I haven’t been able to eat any solid food for 6 months, solely depending on the nutrients being fed to me through a tube in my stomach. I’m on a breathing machine all night to help my lung capacity as well as another machine I use periodically throughout the day to help. Our house has been remodeled to make it ADA accessible, especially the bathroom with a new shower. It takes much longer to shower now, but it’s one of the small joys of the day. I take a lot of prescriptions as I have constant tremors throughout my body that I can’t control. I’m constantly exhausted and have lost most of the use of my left leg. Luckily they were able to make a brace so I can get around. I have trouble swallowing and seem to either have too much saliva or “dry mouth”. But things could be worse; I have a wife that’s been an absolute angel and some true friends that have stepped in to help tremendously. While I am trying to stay positive and focused on making people aware of ALS, I know it’s only going to get worse, much worse, but I try to stay as positive as I can.
Start 2008 by living each day. Take the good, the bad and the ugly and learn the lessons from each.

After my diagnosis of ALS in February 2007 I started a grass roots effort to raise funds for this horrible, mostly unknown, under funded incurable disease. My brother in law, Alex, built this wonderful website so that our family and friends could learn more about this disease, more about me and how I am doing and to raise funds for a cure. My goal is to raise at least two+ million dollars. These dollars will not only help find a cure for ALS they will also help find cures for all neuromuscular diseases. (Muscular Dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson Disease, etc.) I’m honored to be named the state chairperson for the state of Oregon MDA-ALS division.

I’m very grateful to the following groups of people that have contributed:
* The DK Golf Tournament players contributed $2805.00
* The Jr-Sr Golf Association of Oregon players contributed $1759.00
* Chemeketa Community College Faculty contributed $125.00
* Creekside Golf Club members contributed $2087.00
* Family, friends, and friends of friends have contributed $10,755.00

In just six short months we raised just under $17,000 for research for ALS. A great start but we still need to raise more funds. Please ask your friends and colleagues to help. It doesn’t take a lot from any one person; it just takes a little from a lot of people. No donation is too small in fact I’ve had four children donate $1.00 each!! I’ve written a personal thank you note to everyone that’s contributed, including the children. So I urge you to pass my website www.jimculveyhouse.com on to your friends, families and contact lists and let’s make 2008 a year where one of these diseases has a cure.

I wish you all have a very happy, healthy and successful new year. Only with your help can we beat this disease.

P.S. We do have plans for a golf tournament at my Golf Club in April that will be great. We are also having an auction in May (ALS month) at the Golf Club. If you want to know how to get involved with these events email me at www.jimculveyhouse.com.

Click here to give to ALS research.