Veterans at Risk for Deadly Disease
TAMPA, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- This November 11 is Veterans Day, a holiday devoted to honoring those who put their lives on the line for their country. Many veterans return from war with emotional and psychological problems, but now there's another risk -- a devastating disease that kills in just a couple of years.
As an Army sergeant, Ken Patterson was ready and willing to fight for his country. Now, he's fighting for his life. Ken has ALS, a fatal disease also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. It attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
"You go through anger and then denial," Ken told Ivanhoe. "I thought about ending my life."
His speech is affected by the disease. Ken's lost his ability to walk and move. His wife Glenda is always by his side.
"Without her, I wouldn't be here," Ken said.
Ken and Glenda want to know why veterans are more than twice as likely to develop ALS. They recently traveled from their home in Florida to Washington D.C. by wheelchair, a trip that totaled 940 miles. The goal of the three-week journey was to raise awareness about the link between ALS and veterans.
Lucie Bruijn, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Research and Development at the ALS Association in Tampa, Fla., told says there could be many causes. Soldiers are often exposed to polluted air, chemical agents, radioactive waste and high-powered vaccines.
"What I think is happening in the case of the military is there is an environmental exposure and a susceptibility," Dr. Bruijn told Ivanhoe.
The lifespan of someone diagnosed with ALS is about two to five years. There's just one drug approved to treat the disease, but it only extends life by about eight to twelve weeks and costs about $1,000 per month.
"The huge frustration is no, we don't quite have the answers yet," Dr. Bruijn said. "No, we don't have the therapies."
Ken wants answers but knows he doesn't have much time left. He plans on enjoying every minute he does with his family.
"Live every day," Ken said.
In September, the Veterans Administration finally recognized ALS as a "service-connected disease." Veterans with the disease will now have access to benefits. It doesn't matter if you served in the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines -- all have a higher risk for developing ALS.
For More Information, Contact:
The ALS Organization
(800) 782-4747
http://www.alsa.org Ken Patterson's Web Site
http://www.kensjourney.comhttp://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=20085