Quote:
Originally Posted by Phobia
Have a HS classmate dying of the same thing. It's maddening and humbling. But he has a great sense of humor about it and he demands that he's not treated differently so I crack jokes about wanting to take him to an amusement park so we all get head of the line privs. It really depends on the person, I think. I don't think he has another year in him because he's opted not to some of those life extending things that give you a couple extra years but your quality of life is zero.
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I was friends with people in junior high and high school with ALS and other issues. I helped out as much as possible, bathing, wiping, whatever. I can pretty much assure anyone that it wasn't funny. There's a loss of dignity when you have to rely on someone, especially at an early age, for things that we all take for granted.
What I've learned since then is to never treat anyone with a disability any differently than I treat anyone else. Look them directly in the eye and never feel sorry for them, because the last thing people with disabilities, at least in my experience want, is sympathy.
So while I think Gleason is trying to deal with this as best he can, he probably cries at night because people have to wipe his balls.
It's just not funny.