I Need A Senator Stackhouse (or maybe just Murkowski)

In early May, ALS patients and families met with their Congressional representatives on Capital Hill as part of ALS Advocacy Day. One of the key events this year was the introduction of the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act; if it becomes law, it would eliminate the 5 month waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance for ALS patients. 

In case you are fortunate enough to never have dealt with Social Security Disability (SSD), the government has created a check on Disability benefits by making people wait a certain amount of time after they apply before benefits kick in. For the average person, the wait is about two years. ALS patients are already fast tracked since they usually wait only five or six months. That’s a sign of the nature of ALS… it is so awful that even the US government gives you a short cut. And since the average life span of a patient after diagnosis is 1000 days, the difference between two years and five months huge. 

So… this bill would eliminate even that five month waiting period, and since there are only about 5,000 ALS patients diagnosed every year in the US, it will not apply to many people. Finally… I come to my point. When I saw that this legislation had been introduced, I immediately wrote to my Senators and Congressman urging them to support it. I detailed my own experience with the application process, and how it affected our family. Tony was one year into his diagnosis when he stopped work, and he was 34. At that point, I was still working. Our kids were one and four, and we were swamped with the bills of a young family, mortgage, day care payments, and were scraping the bottom of our account each month. We applied for SSD the day after he stopped working, and then the wait began. He had short term disability benefits through his work, so we were incredibly lucky to retain his income through that period. Many other ALS patients aren't that lucky, and it would be great if the waiting period could be eliminated.

Having done my civic duty, I went on about my business. Within a few days, I received a reply from Senator Mark Warner. It was brief, but reflected that he (or someone at least) had read my email.

Dear Mrs. Conway,

       Thank you for contacting me about the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act (S.2904). I appreciate the benefit of your views on this important issue. 

       As you know, on May 9, 2016, this legislation was introduced by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance. I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind as we consider this legislation in committee, and if the full Senate considers this bill or similar proposals in the future. 

       Again, thank you for contacting me. For further information or to sign up for my newsletter please visit my website at http://www.warner.senate.gov.

Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator

As far as I am concerned, this was great. I had been heard... happy constituent. 

Yesterday, I received a reply from my other Senator, Senator Tim Kaine. I always assume a staffer writes these things, and I understand that. But I do expect a certain standard out of the office of a US Senator, and Senator Kaine's office missed that standard by quite a bit. It doesn't even seem like they read it, because they responded about a totally different topic. AND they thought it would be helpful to explain ALS to me... like I really needed summary information about the disease that just killed my husband. 

Dear Mrs. Conway:

Thank you for contacting me about research programs for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. I appreciate hearing from you.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressively fatal neurological disorder that leads to gradual degeneration and death of motor neurons and ultimately, loss of muscle control. ALS is one of the most common neuromuscular diseases worldwide, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that 5,000 people are diagnosed each year in the United States.

Although the causes of ALS are still unknown, there have been a number of advances from research programs in recent years. Adequate funding for research efforts is critical to ensure progress and further understanding of this disease. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the NIH, provides the majority of federal support to biomedical research on ALS.

I am encouraged that the Senate Appropriations bill for the Departments of Health and Human Services includes an additional $307 million in funding for the NIH budget for research. I also joined my colleagues earlier this year in writing to the Senate Appropriations Committee, requesting a strong commitment to funding for NIH in fiscal year 2017. As Congress considers FY 2017 funding levels for NIH and ALS research, I will be sure to keep your views in mind.

Thank you again for contacting me.

Sincerely,

Tim Kaine

I'd like to drive up to D.C. track down Senator Kaine (and his staff), sit them in a chair and yell at them for several hours. With a reply like that, I strongly doubt my message got to him. He did not hear me... no wonder people complain about Congress. And no wonder the ALS community feels that no one is paying attention. 

The Tony Conway '01 Memorial Scholarship

Not too long ago, I wrote about trying to be the steward of Tony's legacy. That's a job that has many parts. First, I always try to talk to the girls about Tony.... memories I made with him, thinks he liked or said, things he did. I am also creating a collection of memories to give them when they are older.

Second is the Conway Cup. I love the Cup and I hope to build on its past success while modifying it for a world without Tony in it. Hopefully, it'll go on for years and years.

I have worked for nearly a year on something more lasting though. I aimed high, because to me Tony deserves parades and speeches and grand monuments. But I had to wade through the bureaucracy of VMI, and they just didn't want to rename the place after Tony. Instead, we created the Tony Conway '01 Memorial Scholarship that will support the VMI Men's Soccer team. Tony was a scholarship athlete at VMI, a team captain, and later a coach. VMI brought him to me, and our connection with our VMI family runs deep. This endowed scholarship will be there long after the last games of the Conway Cup are played, and long after all our soccer boys have moved on. It's something I am very proud of, and something that Cora and Louise can show their children. It will keep Tony's name forever associated with VMI Men's Soccer.

The program has been in transition in the past years, and I am also hoping this scholarship helps to rebuild it. Tony always worked to give the program as much support as possible, because he wanted the best for the players. This is my way of continuing that.

Thank you to everyone who has already donated to the fund! If you would like to contribute to Tony's scholarship fund, you can use the link below, or contact Doug Bartlett at the Keydet Club.

Tony Conway '01 Memorial Scholarship

Another Goodbye

I think I have a tendency to post when I am struggling. I don't know if that is because posting is a way of reaffirming my thoughts and getting them off my chest... or maybe I just think struggles make for more interesting reading. Either way, I haven't been struggling as much lately... who knows why, and it might not last, but I'm going to appreciate it while it does.

I did have a moment this week that completely wiped me out. It was VMI graduation, and we were immersed in parties and ceremonies and fun. It was fun, and I couldn't be prouder of all the cadets we know who graduated. They are awesome guys, and I have waxed on about them many times before.

Their graduation was naturally a very exciting time for them and their families, especially since VMI is not the average college. But every time I really thought about them leaving, I couldn't stop crying. When I walked away from the families after the commencement ceremony, I was crying so hard it was hard to breathe.

It's the nature of these things that they were going to leave someday, and I know we'll see them again. They have really been there for us, and I mean that in the simplest way. They were just here. Here to hang out, here to talk to, here to play with the girls, here to eat my cooking. And I know now that that is one of the best gifts, just being there.

I'm not feeling sorry for myself on this occasion, I'm just so thankful for them and their families.

What's my point? I don't know really... it's another rite of passage. It was tough to see them go, but we'll keep in touch. I am proud to know them. And I love this picture... aren't I a lucky lady?

Texts to Heaven

Our kids are growing up in a digital age, and there's no way to escape that. They see people all the time on their phones (I am guilty of this too, of course), and they copy it. The girls have several old phones that they play with, along with countless toy versions of cell phones. They pretend to text, they take pretend pictures, and they ask me to post things on Facebook. It's different, but that's their world.

The other day we were driving somewhere, and the girls were in the back seat talking about their phones. Cora told Louise that she had a "new app" (she knows the lingo) that could send texts to you in heaven. She explained it in some detail to Louise, who completely accepted it.

That's the technology she imagines... it warms my heart and breaks it at the same time.

Love you, babe.

Inside Out

Sometimes I can't believe this is my life, and usually it feels pretty surreal. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but I can't let that last long. We always said that we felt lucky and that it could be worse, so I shouldn't feel sorry for myself. I genuinely believe those things. My brain has been full of contradictions.

Core memory A: My husband died from a horrible disease at the age of 36. That is awful.

Core memory B: We were able to do amazing things because of that illness. And we were able to put aside all (nearly all) the pettiness and bickering that comes with marriage, and life, and life with small kids, and just be together in an incredible way.

How can those two coexist? Would I rather have more time with Tony? Absolutely. But would I give up the quality of time that ALS gave us? Nope. Trying to solve that paradox was making me a little crazy.

In the end, it's not a choice I had to make. Why pester myself about it? There is no "fair" in life, there is only the life you get. And it's up to you to make the best of that life, every day. A really shitty thing happened to me, but mixed up in that were some incredibly wonderful things too. They don't cancel each other out or conflict with each other, they are both part of my experience.

I miss Tony, and I always will. I feel incredibly lucky to have loved him and have his love in return. I'll keep that joy and sadness together in my heart. I am stronger when Joy and Sadness work together. And I'll keep making new core memories.

P.S. If you haven't watched the movie Inside Out, you really really should.