slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

I am posting the following story in the wake of WFOC's wonderful posting yesterday.

June, 2017...When Chris Rosati was 39 years old and expecting his second child, he received the unimaginable news that he had ALS. On average, the life expectancy after diagnosis of ALS is three years. But today, five and a half years later, Chris writes -- with the help of his computer as his voice -- a moving "Note to Self" about his decision to dedicate his remaining days to making other people happy.

Dear Chris,

I am happy. And I am about to die.

How I got to be both is a beautiful story, and it begins with you.

You are on your knees in a cold exam room, waiting for the doctor to tell you what you already know - that there is no cure, that you will not live to walk your girls down the aisle.

You are lost. Alone. And you are terrified.

I can barely move, typing this with my eyes. But I'm not lost. I'm damn sure not alone. Scared? Yes. Also increasingly optimistic.

Stand up. And I will tell you what you need to know about the journey from your moment to mine.

You will face a struggle even your worried mind cannot imagine. Hurt is coming.

You will lose the ability to hold your children, to touch your wife's face. You will look into the souls of those you love, and you will hurt for their sadness.

Your wife will be the one who makes you believe in true love. She's beautiful and funny and she believes in you. When you lack the strength, she lifts you up. After all these years, you still count the stars that shine in her eyes.

Then there are two smile-makers that are beautiful through and through. They will make you so happy. They are Empathy and Courage. They bring laughter and love, purpose and peace. They will see you at our worst. And they will make you better.

This may be hard to believe, but from all of the pain, you will find your redemption.

You will focus on what you love, making people smile.

You'll discover the best way to make people happy is by helping them make others feel happy. That can make you feel alive - even when you feel like you are dying.

And the girls, they will be okay. They will be shaped by the journey, but they won't be defined by it. They're learning that the best way to live is to give, to worry less, and when we do what we love, we can do more than we ever imagined.

ALS may kill you, but it will make them better.

So go hug the folks running down the hall. Hugs, cry, scream, hurt - feel it all. But know that both despite and because of the sadness, the struggle and the misfortune, there are moments I look around now and wonder if I might be the luckiest man on the face of the earth.



Chris Rosati died October 18th, 2017, at the age of 46.

archie bunker Loc: Texas

I'm leaking. Reminds me of something I'll never forget.
Thanks.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Arch, I saw a story on him a few months ago on CBS, and tonight's update reporting his death. I Googled this and thought it fit to post for all to read and appreciate in their own way...or not. It does grab one's heart.

Worried for our children Loc: Massachusetts

This one hits close to home, a friend, not family, well, not blood anyway, is in his third year. Nicest guy you'd ever meet, but ain't that always the way.

Oh how the world would change for the better if we all lived like we were dying.

Thank you for sharing.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

I lost a friend to ALS a number of years ago. She was diagnosed with the disease and told she would probably live about a year to 18 months. SHe had just bought a dog she wanted to show, having watched a lot of friends showing dogs and seeing how much fun they were having. Unfortunately it was only a couple of months after diagnosis before she could no longer groom the dog, and a month after that before she could no longer walk into the ring with the dog. So friends did the grooming and showing but made sure she was in the win photos each time the dog won. The dog finished his championship about a month before my friend died, and the finishing photo had the judge, the dog, my friend and all those who had been by her side helping her accomplish the goal. The breed club dedicated the next big show to her, and had a copy of the photo on the magazine cover That was a number of years ago, but we all still have copies of the photos, and many of the group have dogs related to her dog as a tribute to her guts and tenacity and bravery in her struggle. she was an amazing person, so this story hit home with me.

4430 Loc: Little Egypt ** Southern Illinory

It'd be nice to post that picture for all to see .

4430 Loc: Little Egypt ** Southern Illinory

My Mom spent her last 2½ yrs in a nursing home and I tell folks if your down just go to a nursing home and then you will realize just how well off you are !

out of the woods Loc: to hell and gone New York State

May we all have time to grow spiritually beautiful as the body fades. May God grant us that grace. I have seen terrified angry death, but I have also seen men practically glow with the assurance that they were getting closer to Christ. Lord help our disbelief.