Good morning, everyone.
Yesterday was a hard day…even though all I really did was sit and get pushed around. It still amazes me how exhausting it can be to do almost nothing physically.
We left the house at 7:00 a.m. for my 8:45 CT scan of my chest at Evanston hospital. It was Cindy, her sister Barb, and me. Bitter cold, quick transfers, careful steps on icy ground. At least I finally upgraded from ankle socks to warm trekking socks…about four months late, but better late than frozen.
Good morning, everyone.
I finished Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. It’s a work of historical fiction centered on Martha Ballard, a midwife who delivered more than a thousand babies in the second half of the 1700s. Lawhon takes a narrow slice of time and builds a murder mystery around it, using Martha’s detailed journals as the backbone of the story.
Martha is observant, deeply involved in everyone’s business, and openly scornful of most men—including, at times, her husband, who comes across as nothing short of a saint.
Good morning, everyone.
Tough loss for the Bears last night, but what a season—it was heart-stopping, edge-of-your-seat football all year and the most excitement in Chicago since the Devin Hester days…or even the ’85 Bears. Caleb Williams is the real deal, and for the first time in a long while there’s genuine hope for the future. The overtime loss hurts, but this team never quit. They kept us watching to the very end, and that’s what sports are supposed to be: pure entertainment and a welcome distraction from life.
Good morning, everyone.
Growing up, most of us had a best friend at some point in childhood. That one person who lived a block or two away, close enough that you could just show up. Back in the ’60s and ’70s there were no arranged playdates, no calendars to coordinate. Your parents simply nudged you out the door and told you to get out from underfoot. Friendship took care of itself.
Good morning, everyone.
Yesterday was massage day—my bi-weekly appointment with Ashley from Sullivan Mobile Massage and Spa. This was my fourth session with her, and she continues to be nothing short of wonderful.
At my third massage, we switched to a chair massage. I simply don’t move well on a table anymore—and if I’m being honest, I don’t really move at all. Playing it safe felt like the right call. But when Ashley finished, I knew immediately: it wasn’t the same.
Good morning, everyone.
I finished reading The Nine yesterday—a WWII story. I’m always struck by what people are able to endure and still maintain the will to live. The courage and tenacity required to survive torture and the inhumane conditions of concentration camps in Germany and Japan is beyond comprehension.
Thanks for the recommendation Nikki.
ALS…Another Fall I had fall #16 the other day while Cindy was out with friends.
Good morning, everyone.
Happy Birthday to Geoff B. 🎂🎉🥳🎈 Geoff is the IT brain behind this blog. If he hadn’t helped get it set up, I’m honestly not sure it ever would’ve gotten off the ground. Thank you, Geoff, for your steady support and for being one of the people quietly making this whole thing possible.
We had a couple of visitors yesterday afternoon. Bill and his girlfriend Monica made the trek from Waukegan to spend some time with us.
Good morning, everyone.
Y’all came through yesterday. Cindy was flooded with happy birthday wishes all day long. We even had Angel Peggy stop by and join us for a casual pizza dinner. Thank you for helping make it such a special day.
Unfortunately, I nearly derailed the entire thing—simply by crossing up a few numbers. I recently bought a pulse oximeter—the little device you clip on your finger. They’re inexpensive, and since I’ve been feeling short of breath, I wanted to see whether my oxygen saturation was being affected.
Good morning, everyone.
It’s an important day. Today is Cindy’s birthday. 🎉🎂🥳🎈 Let’s find a safe port in this ALS storm and celebrate Cindy all day long.
So I’m asking for something simple—and something important. Please reach out to her. Flood her phone with texts. Leave messages. Post on Facebook. Use whatever corner of the internet you inhabit to say happy birthday. For one full day, let’s gather up the dark clouds of ALS, lock them away, and give her uninterrupted sunshine.
Good morning, everyone.
I watched the Bears–Packers game yesterday morning. I knew there was no way I could stay up late to watch it live andstill crank out a blog post by 7:00 a.m. It was exciting to see the Bears win—maybe too exciting—but that’s been the Bears MO all season. Good. Better. Best.
Cindy was able to carve out some time for herself this weekend and get out to socialize with friends and family.
Good morning, everyone. Happy birthday wishes to my sister Maria, who recently retired to northern Wisconsin, and to Cindy’s cousin Pat S. in Florida.
Fare Thee Well Yesterday we lost Bob Weir, one of the founding members of the Grateful Dead, and later Dead & Company. A sad day for the many Deadheads who followed that music over a lifetime.
I have a lot of fond memories of seeing the Dead, primarily at Alpine Valley Music Theatre.
Good morning, everyone.
So far, so good—I’ve managed to avoid the worst of the season’s cold and flu. At most, I’ve had some early-morning sniffles that disappear by 7:00 a.m. Whatever causes them, they don’t linger, so I’m not giving them much thought.
Thank you to everyone who had plans to stop by but chose to back off to avoid risking my health. I don’t love being risk-averse, but in this case it’s the smart move, and I truly appreciate the thoughtfulness.
Good morning, everyone!
Happy birthday to Linda B. in Arizona—one of Cindy’s many cousins. 🎉
Feeding tube saga: three weeks and counting. I’m officially sorry I ever mentioned the degradation of my original feeding tube. Yesterday was my appointment in Grayslake for what we were told would be measurement for a new feeding tube.
Barb and Mark came along for both moral and physical support. Transfers in and out of the car are risky for me these days, and if something goes sideways, it can quickly become a real problem.
Good morning, everyone.
Yesterday’s cold came on strong in the morning—judging by the growing pile of Kleenex—and then disappeared just as quickly. By early morning (normal time), everything dried up and I felt fine. Weird… but I’ll take the win. Maybe that IV cocktail from Saturday really did its job.
Today brings a bigger challenge.
I’m heading to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Grayslake to get measured for the feeding tube replacement.
Good morning, everyone.
Well… I think my immune system may have just thrown up the white flag this morning. When my nose starts running, it usually isn’t long before the rest of my body joins the rebellion. Maybe I’m wrong—but the growing pile of used Kleenex is usually a pretty reliable early warning system. Seriously, I hope I’m wrong.
I don’t want to take a turn for the worst, tomorrow I’m supposed to get “measured” for a feeding tube.
Good morning, everyone.
Let’s talk about ALS—specifically the top three physical issues I’m dealing with right now—because the physical side quietly drives everything else: the mental load, the emotional swings, and the social engagements.
I still find it odd to write about this stuff. But this is what I’m working through every single day. And the biggest takeaway—one I don’t want to gloss over—is this: I’m still doing it. I’m still showing up.
Andy’s Army – ALS United Chicago Marathon Current fundraising total: $6,247 To donate, click the hamburger ☰ in the top right corner and select 🎗️ Fundraiser
Good morning, everyone.
It was the perfect morning to hit snooze and sleep in—uninterrupted sleep continues to be elusive. Between the machines, the pillows, the pee,,and the phlegm (which I’m fairly certain is trying to choke me), my nights are anything but restful.
Since today marks the official end of the holiday break—school’s back in session and everyone’s returning to work—I wanted to show my solidarity with those who must rise and shine and face the day head-on.
Good morning, everyone.
It’s been pretty quiet on the home front—aside from some coughing fits and steady nose-blowing. So far, I’ve managed to dodge whatever bug is making the rounds. That’s probably due to a combination of limited human interaction and Cindy being masked up around the house, wiping down any surface I might touch. So far, so good.
We were scheduled to get an IV immunity boost over the weekend, but the home nurse ended up getting sick… hmmm.
Good morning, everyone.
It’s been pretty quiet on the home front—aside from some coughing fits and steady nose-blowing. So far, I’ve managed to dodge whatever bug is making the rounds. That’s probably due to a combination of limited human interaction and Cindy being masked up around the house, wiping down any surface I might touch. So far, so good.
We were scheduled to get an IV immunity boost over the weekend, but the home nurse ended up getting sick… hmmm.
Good morning, everyone.
As I mentioned the other day, 15 runners are signed up to run the Chicago Marathon on October 11, 2026, supporting ALS United under the team name Andy’s Army.
Many of them are first-time marathoners, which makes this even more meaningful. My ask is simple: let’s help them succeed—by getting them to the finish line, helping them raise beaucoup $$, and making sure they have fun along the way.