Amyotrophic+Lateral+Sclerosis_McFadden

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclorosis

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclorosis is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclorosis has certain symptoms such as muscle weakness, twitching, cramping of the muscles, difficulty projecting words, also shortage of breath and difficulty swallowing. So far there is no treatment to reverse ALS but there is a medicine called Riluzole which can prolong life but not fully reverse the disease. I am doing a story on Lou Gehrig's life with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. While Lou Gehrig was playing baseball for the New York Yankees halfway through the 1939 season he began to become weak and fatigued so they diagnosed him with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclorosis. Overtime it took a real toll on Lou he couldnt field balls coming straight to him or grip a bat without his hands being in pain. Soon after that, his disease became a major issue, he wa forced to retire from baseball and that is when he gave his famous Farewell Speech on July 4th 1939. He will be remembered as one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the sport. Not just for his amazing athleticism but for the factors he faced while playinig baseball with his disease. Lou Gehrig's life ended shortly after he gave his speech, he passed away on June 2nd 1941 in Riverdale, New York. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclorosis is not just a deadly disease but a very fast-acting one as well

Lou Gehrig 