Devastating Disease affects Phoenix Resident

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jenelle Allen
Regional Public Affairs Coordinator
(480)893-8004 jallen@mdausa.org


Devastating Disease affects Phoenix Resident

June 2003 is a month that Duane Harris will always remember. It was then that he was diagnosed with Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
The fast progressing disease, ALS destroys the nerve cells controlling muscles in healthy adults, weakening muscles until they are nonfunctional and causing complete paralysis. The progression of the disease is unpredictable and varies from person to person. Death generally comes within two to five years of the diagnosis.
Duane said, “as it progresses it gets harder and harder.” Duane went from 8 years of being a computer specialist for the federal highway administration and years before that working in government affiliated occupations to being diagnosed with the incurable disease, ALS. It is now difficult for him to speak, eat, and he has to depend on his power wheel chair to stay mobile. From June of 2005 to June of 2006 Duane has loss use of his hands and arms and his speech is also fading. ALS, “is a humiliating, devastating disease,” Duane said.
Duane’s wife of 30 years, Jane, has been a very positive, supportive part of his life. At the 2005 Muscular Dystrophy Association’s (MDA) Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon Jane said, “either your going to cry about it all the time or laugh and live life to the best of your ability and that is what we’ve chosen to do.” Ironically, the two met when Jane was volunteering at the 1973 MDA Telethon.
The Harris’ celebrated a milestone with the arrival of their first grandchild earlier this year. Duane is very excited and continues to have a positive outlook on life. Duane communicates using Erica Eye Response Computer System, which is a system that reads his eye movements and then projects his responses on a computer screen, giving him the ability to express himself. With this system he also has computer access and is able to write e-mails.
Duane attended this year’s MDA ALS conference. The Harris’ are avid supporters of MDA and said, “MDA has been a great resource for us to go to when we need something.” Duane said, “we, as a community, need to get the word out about muscular dystrophy and show support,” so that we can help fund the research to find a cure.
The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) leads the worldwide scientific battle to find a cure for the disease, funding more ALS research than any other voluntary health agency in the United States. MDA has invested nearly $190 million in its ALS program.
MDA assists people with ALS and their families through clinics, support groups, educational materials, medical equipment loan closets, and financial assistance with the purchase of wheelchairs and communication devices. Show your support to MDA and ALS by watching the annual Jerry Lewis Telethon September 3rd and 4th on KTVK, 3, Phoenix.

MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat more than 40 neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. Individual private contributors fund the Association’s programs almost entirely.