Growing up as a staff kid at Prairie Bible College, I lived for sports. Every day, if it bounced, rolled, or could be thrown, I was there. I might not have been the fastest kid on the diamond, but my body worked fine and I couldn’t have dreamed of a better childhood.
Little did I know that there I would meet the love of my life in High School. The books didn’t stick, but one thing did: my love for Bev, leading to the best decision in my life, marrying her. Together, we built a life, raised two amazing kids, Theoren and Christina, and welcomed grandchildren who became our greatest joy.
I spent over 20 years at Prairie College, where they provided me with a wonderful opportunity to serve the community I loved (and perfect my golf game)! Life was full, and I was exactly where I wanted to be.
Then, about 24 months ago, my body started sending me signals. Tingling. Twitching. A foot that refused to take a simple step. Test after test gave no answers, until hearing the doctor say three letters on March 13, 2024: “ALS”. They hung heavy in the air around me. Thinking to myself, “I’ve always been strong and active; how can this be?” It was a peculiar sense of relief to finally know, after so many months of not. The shock threatened to overwhelm us, and the silent drive home was almost unbearable as we wondered how we were going to tell our children who were anxiously awaiting news.
ALS is relentless and unpredictable. It takes, little by little, and forces you to adapt. My left side is weaker than my right, but I’m still here, I’m still moving forward, and I still remind myself daily: I’m not dying from ALS; I’m living with ALS. And my life, even now, is filled with moments of kindness, love, and unexpected joy.
In the summer of 2024, we took several wonderful trips to places like Oklahoma, Montana, and Ontario, not knowing so many would bless our socks off. We also travelled to Seattle, WA, to watch my Toronto Blue Jays play the Seattle Mariners, and what a memorable trip it was! As we’ve connected with extended family, dear friends, and fellow classmates, we have been rewarded over and over with incredible support and encouragement.
Bev is my rock, my caregiver, my partner in all of this. Our children, our friends, and our community have lifted us in ways we never imagined. The ALS Society of Alberta has been an incredible support, helping us navigate this new reality with resources, equipment, and compassion. We don’t walk this path alone.
As a young man, I valued strength and the ability to be active, never thinking that those days would come to such an end. Where do we turn when life leads us into a new season that we weren’t prepared for? With the help of my parents, I came to know Jesus as a young boy and have never regretted the decision to follow him. Why would we not count our blessings? Research into the disease holds promise, but there is no getting away from the fact that one day, sooner than we’d planned, I may very well be changing my address and meeting my Saviour face-to-face. In spite of the difficult path that lies ahead, however, I remind myself often how blessed I am.
This is why I invite you to join me at Red Deer’s Walk Together for ALS on June 22, 2025 at Bower Ponds. Walk for those of us living with ALS. Walk for the families and loved ones behind us, walk for the caregivers beside us, and walk for a future ahead of us without ALS. Together, we will make a difference.