I am Osiel Mendoza
living with ALS
California
I'm not searching for pity by explaining this. I don't think anyone in the ALS community is searching for that. We just want to be heard. And want to create a future without ALS.
My name is Osiel Mendoza. I was diagnosed with ALS On October 25th, 2016 at the age of 21. During the time that I was finishing college, building a future for myself, getting engaged, creating new goals, dreams and aspirations, I started getting muscle twitches and rapid weakness in my legs, feet and hands. Three weeks after noticing symptoms and undergoing tests on my body, a Doctor told me that I have ALS and 2-5 years to live. When I asked how I can fight this, I was told that the only possible treatment plan is a pill that can potentially increase my life expectancy by 18 months. Other than that, start preparing for the road ahead.
Unacceptable.
ALS can rob anyone of the most basic abilities that we often take for granted. Talking, moving and breathing.
Eating completely normal led to eating slower, which led to chewing longer, which led to trouble swallowing, which led to choking hazards, which led to an inability to swallow, which led to a feeding tube.
Walking completely normal led to dragging my legs and getting fatigued as my muscles began to deteriorate, which led to paying attention to every step I took, which led to tripping and falling, which led to serious injuries, which led to a cane, walking sticks, a walker, which led to a wheelchair, which led to complete paralysis of my body.
Talking completely normal led to talking slower, which led to difficultly pronunciating words, which led to slurred speech, which led to difficulty having conversations, which led to total loss of verbal communication, which led to communicating through a computer.
Breathing completely normal led to becoming short of breath doing basic daily activities, which led to trouble breathing when laying down flat in bed, which led to having to catch my breath when talking, which led to using a BIPAP to support my breathing, which led to the decision of death or tracheostomy at the age of 24, which led to becoming dependent on a ventilator to breathe.
ALS is a relentless beast that never stops.
I’m not searching for pity by explaining this. I don’t think anyone in the ALS community is searching for that. We just want to be heard. And want to create a future without ALS.
I will continue to fight towards making that dream a reality. Whatever it takes.
I AM ALS.
-Osiel Mendoza
