@ditamontoya and @hopeful33250 .. I was diagnosed as having LGMDr23 in 2015 by two labs working independently. This is an interesting and peculiar disease. At my birth, the doc knew things were not right, but he did not know the details. He said I was a "floppy baby", and would probably not live long. Now, at age 82, I am still sort of floppy, I suppose. Anyway, It often comes along as part of a AI package of diseases, often related to a myeloma(amyloidosis) family. I have Gelsolin (Finnish Amyloidosis), many touches of cancers in my body, etc. One sister has died of this at 60, her daughter at 55, another dying at 75, another at 87. Now, another truth. Much of this may be environmentally related, such as radon, Round-up, mercury, lead, carbon monoxide, bitter cold working temps, extreme heat, gross physical exhaustion. Just noting the many potential triggers of LGMD. I played, coached and officiated football 30 years. Ran my last half-marathon at 50 yrs. Now, for the fun part. There seems to be no real knowledge of how LGMD works, or even what it does to nerve and muscle; thus no treatment beyond just going like hell every minute of every day. Some days I could barely crawl out of bed. But I have backpacked all over Oregon, Washington and Idaho. I have never been really smart but hold a BA, Master's, Doctorate. I have 20 great-grandchildren, including two Marines. So my advice to you is just go for broke, It will do no good to hold anything back. Fill this column with stories of what you have done with your life. We lived in motor homes for 12 years across the USA, Maine to Cal, Fla to Washington. And worked with churches around the world. So have fun with your life. And if you ever run into some doc who said your life would be a waste, laugh in their face, strap on your pack, and move-it, move-it oldkarl.

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