The obvious question when I reconnect with my friends is "How are you?"  The short answer is "I'm doing great!", and amazingly, that really is the truth.  The full story of my battle with ALS is considerably longer, and difficult to explain in a short conversation.

The average life-expectancy for someone with ALS is three to four years.  I have been battling ALS for eleven years now, which makes my case an extremely "good"  one.  The fact that the illness is so much harder on other families is not lost on me.  I truly do consider myself the luckiest man alive, both because I have gotten to watch my boys grow up and that I continue to wake up every day full of passion for life.

My physical condition is full of paradoxes.  I can stand, but I can no longer walk.  I am comfortable sitting in my recliner, but require assistance breathing at night from a bipap machine.  I can no longer scratch my nose, but I am able to ride my stationary bike for twenty minutes.  I am able to drink safely and although my voice is softer, I am still able to communicate.  These are simple yet crucial abilities.  I am grateful for everything I can still do.

Although I can no longer use a mouse or keyboard, my new laser head-tracking system combined with foot pedals is allowing me to run dozens of programs, including, amazingly enough, ProTools  (which is the professional recording software that I used for years in my studio).  This new-found ability is allowing me to help my brother to produce and mix the Mann Project recording titled Finding My Way Home.  If you had told me just a short time ago that I could run ProTools, build a website, start a charity and reconnect with hundreds of friends on Facebook, I would never have believed it.  It has been a long and difficult journey, and I never would have made it this far without the help, love, and support of family and dear friends.  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.