Cathy Speck Update

[Mike Simpson]

Hi mike, this is a letter I wrote back to Dr. Martin Welsh (Marty) who has had ALS for over four years and is getting ready to die, or maybe not. He is awesome and I had the pleasure of cutting the red ribbon with him at the ALS walk. You can post this if you like. see you soon. xoxox,
Cathy


Hi Marty and all--- this is Cathy speck checking in...

Thanks for your wonderful note & update.
I've been meaning to tell you -- the moment before we cut the red ribbon (that kept resisting by blowing in the wind) at the ALS Walk, as our eyes met, I felt something spiritual happen. And now I'm GOD. Just kidding, go ahead with the inappropriate laughter.
But seriously, I felt a special energy circle--I don't know human words for it. But other people felt it too, and it was caught on camera. Thank you for that moment; it lives with me everyday.
Sadly, two days after the walk, my oldest brother Paul (he was at the Walk on crutches, then riding his bicycle,) told us he's been diagnosed wiht ALS. He planned on telling us that weekend, but was too overwhelmed by the walk, and he waited 'til Monday to send us all an email.
He has the same SOD1 mutation as the rest of us exon 5 133A. He has four kids and one grandkid. It feels like this disease has taken my big ,bold, loud strong, family , and well, the disease is playing a game with us--Dominos (not the pizza), as we fall one by one. My 87- year-old day is heartbroken, but still an inspiration to me. We started out with nine kids (and mom & Dad) and now we are six, and Dad , bless his heart.
I do know that I will BEAT ALS, perhaps not physically, but spiritually, or some other ethereal way. The spirit of CAthy Speck will not stand down!
Anyway, I think all of us together have the power to rule the world. and we would do it right.
Love, peace,mercy and compassion blowin' inthe wind, just like that red ribbon.
Cheers and thank you!
Cathy Speck