As Gaslowitz Frankel continues our charitable giving program to celebrate the firm’s 25th anniversary, partner Millie Baumbusch has chosen the ALS Association for her donation.
When I asked to discuss the reasons behind choosing her non-profit, Millie shared this story.
My dear friend, Resi, was a sweet, charming, and vibrant wife and mother of three. In the years when our children were young, we would walk together for an hour each morning. It was during those walks when Resi confided in me about her lifelong fear. As a teenager, she had seen a special on TV about Lou Gehrig and his battle with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
Several years later, Resi seemed to be stumbling over her words. She repeatedly claimed that her tongue felt too big for her mouth, and she worried the neighbors would think she had been drinking. A few short weeks later, she noticed a slight weakness in her arms. “ALS,” she whispered. “Nonsense,” I replied.
Resi visited her doctor, and then she consulted with specialists. She began to limp slightly, rest often, and when her children were out of view, allow a scared look to appear on her face. She couldn’t understand why the doctors continually failed to confirm what she already knew. Eventually, as her symptoms worsened, she received a diagnosis of ALS.
Resi and her husband managed her ALS with grace and courage. They moved to Rhode Island, and I visited often. On one of those visits, Resi, now wheelchair-bound, asked me for one of her favorite, however odd, snacks. So I gathered the bag of Doritos and a small bowl of maple syrup, brought the combination to her, and lovingly proclaimed by disgust. With a twinkle in here eye, Resi challenged me: “If you try it, I’m sure I’ll be cured!” I devoured the syrup-drenched nacho cheese chips with gusto, leaving us both to share a fit of laughter.
We lost Resi later that summer.
Approximately 30,000 Americans suffer from ALS, which generally strikes those between the ages of 40 and 70. This neurodegenerative disease attacks motor neurons, leading to the loss of muscle control and eventual paralysis. Between five to ten percent of cases are the familial forms of the disease. The rest of the cases seem to be random attacks on previously healthy adults, which you can see from this public service announcement on the History of Lou Gehrig.
Treatment options continue to be limited, but early assistance with breathing and feeding, as those muscles weaken, can increase length of survival and quality of life. There is no cure, but there is hope.
It took me a long time to recover from the loss of my dear friend, but I eventually joined the Board of the ALS Association Georgia Chapter (ALSAGA).
The ALSAGA does great work to support patients and families affected by ALS. It supports cutting-edge research efforts and three clinics throughout Georgia – Atlanta, Augusta, and Macon. It provides care services and support groups for ALS patients, families, and caregivers. It offers a medical equipment rental program for power wheelchairs, communication devices, and related items that sometimes are not covered by insurance. It provides respite care to relieve stress and caregiver “burnout.” It holds an annual education symposium on a wide variety of issues: medical, social, and legal. The ALSAGA is a significant source of assistance for all touched by ALS in Georgia.
You may personally know someone with ALS. You may remember baseball player Lou Gehrig, jazz musician Charlie Mingus, pitcher Catfish Hunter, or Senator Jacob Javits, who had their lives cut short by ALS. I remember them, but mostly, I remember Resi. That is why I am so dedicated to the ALS Association Georgia Chapter.
About the Charitable Giving Project
To mark the firm’s 25th anniversary, Gaslowitz Frankel has decided to give back to the community that has been instrumental in our growth. Our attorneys and staff will choose 25 charities to be the beneficiaries of $500 contributions throughout 2014 calendar year.
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