Lou Gehrigs Disease Als: Sailing Away

Lou Gehrigs Disease ALS does not have to send you spiraling into depression

. Here is the story of one man who focuses on overcoming and being.

The warm summer air weighs on Michael's shoulders in a heavy wave of condensation. A quick breeze almost distracts him from the clammy skin tightening its grip on the inside of his t-shirt. He glances out onto the field to see the ball hiked and the quarterback move a few paces before hurling it towards the end zone. A successful receiver finishes the drill.

Coach Michael gingerly sets his silver whistle between his lips, giving two quick blasts, resulting in the team jogging over at half-pace, sweaty and tired. After a quick talk, they are dismissed to head home. Michael regrips the cane at his side and slowly makes his way to his office, already contemplating tomorrows practice.

Michael Ortega has ALS but he has not allowed his diagnosis to dictate his life. He is the head coach for a local high school football team and serves as an inspiration for his players. For many, he serves as a father figure and mentor.

Since a young age, football has enticed him. He played in college for a few years before heading back home to coach. He believes that football taught him to be the man he is today, and he wants to pass on the virtues of integrity, discipline, and teamwork to ensure a better world than the one he came into.

He hopes to leave a positive mark on the world and to lead a good example for his son that promotes independence, courage, and a instills the knowledge that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.

He wants to leave a legacy for his son to follow that portrays the importance of continually working towards your dreams, even in the face of a difficult situation. As he puts it, though we cannot control the wind of our adverse conditions, we can adjust the sails. Life is about intentions and being optimistic. The realities of his situation do not escape him, but they are not the focus of his life. No matter what, he is simply being who he has always and will always be.

Life is a beautifully chaotic mishap. Seemingly insignificant acts throughout our lives have shaped us into who we are today, and are in the process of molding the world around us into something else. Our constantly evolving environment is run through intentions, so embrace life, live it to the fullest and make your mark on the world.

My eighth grade history teacher once called it, filling your dash. No one can be sure of the time we have here on earth when we arrive. All that we can do is take what we are given and try to turn into something positive and effectual. Michael's determination to be that positive force in the world draws people to him, leaving others that want to emulate his lifestyle and personality.

You are not ALS, you are a person. A beautiful, sentient being with the power to overcome the hurdles and obstacles that threaten to label you. Be an inspiration to others, by being an inspiration to yourself.

by: Amy Sherwood

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