06/20/2025
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I want to share something personal with you, because I value the connections we’ve built and the kindness you have showed me. I have been diagnosed with Bulbar ALS. It’s the most aggressive form of ALS that affects the muscles we use for speaking, swallowing, and breathing. There is no known cure for this disease and it always fatal. There are only 2 approved drugs, but neither of them do anything other than possibly slow the progression if it can be slowed at all. My first symptoms started just before Christmas last year, and I was diagnosed by a neurologist in Baton Rouge, Dr. Brian Murphy, on January 31 and referred me to Houston Methodist Hospital, Dr. Stanley Appel. The average life expectancy when diagnosed with Bulbar ALS at age 70 is 1 to 2 years from first onset of symptoms. Doing the math, my mother was a math teacher and I had her for 3 years, and I am a numbers guy – that gives me approximately 6-18 months. The good news in all of this – ALS does not affect the brain – so I can still think like a 70 year old – I said think, not remember. It does affect the brain stem – that ‘s where the talking, swallowing, breathing originates as well as control of our emotions. So I laugh and cry very easily, even when I shouldn’t.
Currently, I sound a bit less like myself, my speech is heavily slurred, and as i get tired it gets worse. My ALS doctor, Dr. Stanley Appel, a world renowned ALS Specialist at Houston Methodist Hospital, has given me a “Get Out of Jail” card, that I should show the Police if they stop me, it states that my slurring of speech, and loss of balance sometimes when walking is due to ALS – not drinking alcohol – HAHA. Eating and drinking will become trickier for me as well. The medical world has mechanical devices that will enable me to live longer, but I have chosen through and advance directive not to have a feeding tube, or breathing machine hooked to me – that’s not living, can’t talk, can’t eat, can’t breathe – those machines only delay the inevitable.
I am focused on living fully, staying positive, and sharing as much joy and humor as I can. I am at peace with all of this, I have a loving family that I love dearly, What I need most from you is what you already give so well: friendship, patience, and plenty of laughs. If you don’t understand me just smile and nod. If I need help, I’ll ask. I am going to continue to work doing Real Estate Mortgage Loans for as long as I can talk and my clients hear and understand what I am saying.
Thank you for being a part of my life. I’m grateful beyond words, and looking forward to making many more good memories together – no matter what comes.
When my time comes to an end, I have instructed my family that I want to be cremated, an Irish and Norwegian (viking) tradition, and just like the Irish and Vikings, my ashes to be spread across the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. My happy place has always been in or on water, I started competitive swimming at age 4, water skiing at 12, Scuba Diving under the rigs in the Gulf of Mexico at 16, and have lived on water (homes on a lake) for the last 20 years. So if you are ever swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, just know that I will be swimming there as well, There will be no memorial service or funeral – those are only sad events and no fun to attend. Instead, the next time you have a drink in your hand say this age old Irish Toast for me – “To Dan, May you be at the gates of heaven an hour before the devil knows you’re dead!”
Preferably do this anytime between now and then - before i pass on to Heaven or Valhalla (viking heaven) – that way the devil doesn’t have a chance in hell. HaHa
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