Wednesday, February 25 – Day 551

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Good morning, everyone.

This will be a short post today. I’m having serious issues with my hands, and they’re making a mess of my typing. They shake so much that I hit unintended keys, which leads to corrections… which leads to more errors. Ugh.

Tim and Tom have been asking — like everyone else — “What can we help you with?” My typical answer is “Nothing.

Yesterday was different.

I don’t enjoy showering anymore. When the spray goes over my head, I worry about even a few drops of water slipping into my mouth and down my airway. It only takes a tiny amount to cause problems. Because of that, I’ve been putting off washing my hair as long as possible.

I wrote about this issue a couple of weeks ago, and out of the blue a portable shower showed up at the house from Pam H. (part of the Waukegan crowd). It consists of an inflatable basin and an overhead water reservoir. What makes this work better than the handheld shower in the bathroom is that I can stay in my power chair and tilt my head back safe.

So yesterday, I asked my brothers if they wanted to wash my hair.

Without hesitation, they said yes.

And we did it.

The entire process was a comedy. Three grown men, one inflatable basin, a hanging water bag, and more instructions than necessary. There was splashing, adjusting, second-guessing, and probably enough laughter to confuse the neighbors. But it worked.

They washed my hair.

It’s a strange thing to need help with something so basic. A year ago, I would never have imagined asking my brothers to shampoo my hair. But here we are. What struck me most wasn’t the awkwardness. It was how normal they made it feel. No drama. No hesitation. Just, “Sure, let’s do it.”

ALS keeps taking things. That part is obvious.

But yesterday reminded me that it can’t take everything. I still have my brothers.
And apparently, I have a new salon team.

Have a good Wednesday. Love you guys. ❤️