My ALS Challenge

I really enjoy baseball. Some think it is boring but there is a lot of strategy involved in the game, especially at pitching. I was thinking of the poem ‘Casey at the Bat’, written in 1888. Mighty Casey was the feared batsman. Mudville, the team Casey played for, was losing. In the ninth inning, the first two Mudville batters got out. There were two more batters before Casey, who would surely win the game, but they weren’t very good. Surprisingly, they got on base and Casey came up to bat, Surely Mudville was going to win the game! Casey let the first two pitches go by which the umpire called for strikes. The crowd yelled and was shouted “Kill the umpire!” (I have a general issue with how officials are treated in sports , but that is a different story). Casey put up his hand and calmed the crowd. On the third pitch, Casey swung and missed. He struck out. Mudville lost the game.

So, why am I sharing the story of Casey at the Bat? The ALS community received news that one of the three drugs that was approved by Health Canada depending on outcomes of Phase 3 clinical trials, did not meet its primary and secondary endpoints. What does this mean? Experts need to better understand the implications but, suffice to say, it is not good news for the ALS community.

It is too early to tell what this means. But, like the Mudville fans, as an ALS patient, I am sad at what seems to be a setback. But I also recognize there are always opportunities to learn from both successes and setbacks. I will let the experts determine the findings and how best to move forward. There is always the next game, the next at bat.

Recently, I attended a webinar that presented findings from a study conducted out of the Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Clinic at Columbia University that a higher glycemic index and load were associated with slower disease progression. So, a higher carbohydrate diet – white bread, white rice, potatoes, watermelon, etc. – due to the increased  metabolic demand for glucose in ALS patients. This typically goes against conventional thinking which suggests lower carbs but sometimes it takes turning conventional thinking on its head to find new approaches. My wife does tell me, though, it does not mean more French fries and potato chips. Well, maybe a couple.
So, like the Mudville fans, the star player of their team may have struck out to lose this game. There are more games for Casey to have that winning hit and for Mudville to win the game.

As in baseball, which requires continuous practice and planning for the next game, there is a need for ALS pharmaceutical companies and research institutes to continue with the ongoing search for both drugs and therapies to battle this terrible disease.

I continue my efforts in my virtual ride across Canada to help raise funds for the ALS Society of Canada to support this ongoing research and advocate for more supports for ALS patients. With this continued support, maybe Casey doesn’t strike out and Mudville wins the game.

If anything, I say:
Take me out to the ballgame
Take me out with the crowd
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack…

Apparently the carbs may be good for me, and hopefully a ‘lemonade’ to wash it all down.