Our Story
This is our most favorite photo we have. This was on our Wedding Day 12 years after the proposal and Anne's "YES" answer! And they say I'm slow! Just cautious. It was all the Army's fault anyway.
I am 60 years old, and a 17 year+ survivor with ALS. With the Good Lord's help, many more years will follow.
I come from a medium size family, four sisters (Marlene, Deborah, Barbara and Elizabeth) and one brother (William). My loving parents; LeRoy P. (deceased-11/96) and LaVern M. (deceased-01/02) tried their darnedest to raise me right and for the most part succeeded quite nicely. I graduated from Napa Senior High School in 1965. Immediately entered the military and including a break after Viet Nam, for 1 ½ years, had a reasonably good career of 22 years retiring in Dec. 1989. The Army made sure I got the opportunity to see a lot of the world; Dominican Republic, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Singapore, Rhodesia, Chad, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Philippines, Okinawa, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and most of Europe and even some time in the States. Our Family has four children, we claim, Allan (43), David (47), Victoria (35), Andreana (22). The four are grown and gone and doing nicely on their own now, three in Napa, CA, Allan, Victoria and Andreana. David lives in Sonoma, CA.
My wife, Anne, comes from a small family. She was an only child. We've been soul mates for 36 years, even though I've tried to fight it. We met in late 1970 at the Bel Aire Bowl in Napa while I was between tours in the Army. I fell hard for her right away and her for me. I proposed in 1972, she accepted, I then left to re-enter the Army and left for Europe. (But this is another story, not for now).
In winter of 1990, my wife Anne and I knew something was seriously wrong as my right arm began to lose strength, during the year, and the hand atrophied noticeably between the thumb and forefinger. Having had a serious skiing accident in Nov of 90 that I tried to keep quiet. Did a head first into some "Black Diamond" moguls, where I had no business being. Afterwards I seemed to trip a lot without realizing why. I just thought I was being clumsy. The next two years were nothing but tests. An X-ray and then an MRI showed that I had recovered from a broken neck, which I never realized I had, nor did the Army doctors. We traced it back to my senior trip from High School, THE TOUR?? To Vietnam in 1966. Where the jeep I was riding in hit a land mine, and as usual I landed on my head. I also had a couple of malfunctions during a few parachute jumps, (387), that added to the injury I’m sure. Just amazed me that it was missed for so many years. The pain wasn’t missed just didn’t have time to find out where it came from. During this time I continued my work at the County of Napa Correctional Facility, where I had been promoted to Supervisor. Fearing an early retirement I kept the condition to myself, at least until it affected my professional performance. All along getting support from my superiors Dan Cunningham, John Pearson and John Alexander. Without whose efforts my employment would have really been cut short. However, situations kept arriving that required me to use strength and agility. Mine seemed to be getting worse on both fronts. Finally in 1995 the problems got bad enough that retirement was unavoidable. Unfortunately it required that I retire, way too early for me, and focus on the issues at hand. This put an immediate strain on the finances. I'm sure every PALS has experienced the same thing. We have sense done much traveling in the beginning while I was still fairly mobile. We even managed a trip to Europe with my parents in 1996. Visited England, Italy, Portugal, Spain and France. A first for Anne and Mom and Dad. We all had a great time.
We still continue to travel to the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) of Michigan, as often as possible, to see our good friends there and for Lee to do the hunting thing with David Brown and Cabbage Patch Estates (hunting camp) friends. In 1998 they all went Moose Hunting in Northern Canada. Lyle (now living in Alaska) was the fortunate member and shot a nice 4 year old Bull the 7th day out. They all took great care of Lee during the trip. He will never forget it and the way they treated him. With friends like this the trials seem much smaller. Lee shot a nice Buck (8 point) opening morning of deer season (1999) back in Michigan on our property in Pickford. Then another buck 5 days later. Great fit in freezer. Through all of this came many emotions and feelings that required us to deal with. We have been fortunate enough to have met many inspiring people along our journey; Charlie and Lucy Wedemyer, Marc Reiman, Jack Simmon, Don Altier & his family, William Hubben, Chris Pendergrass, Kyle Hahn and Terry to name a few, that have made this transition much easier. All of these PALS have great positive attitudes and a Faith that surely heals. Together we will all fight this battle till we put a "W" in the win column. Lee with the help of Pastor Warnock started the Napa Valley ALS Support Group in 1997, which meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Queen of the Valley Hospitals Community Outreach Office. It is now over 9 years old. Lee also produces an ALS newsletter that he sends out each month. He has been appointed to the San Francisco ALS Board of Directors and is on their Development Committee and Patient and Family Services Committee. He also volunteers time with the Detention Ministry here in the valley to help the young kids in the County Jail with whatever help they can to change their situation around and not repeat past errors. Now the vent is here (Jan. 1st 2004) and other issues need attention. With the help of all our friends, family and God we will achieve our goals. That is simply "to make a difference". Remember life is not a dress rehearsal. Thank you for allowing us to share our family with you.
KEEP THE FAITH AND GOD BLESS.
