Hello all,
My name is Maryann Maggs-Eaton and my lovely husband is Stan Eaton. In 2016, Stan had foot drop, the doctors thought was a pinched nerve and needed back surgery, he also needed rotator cuff surgery. Stan was a long shore man for twenty years so these surgeries were not a shock. He had two surgeries and no improvement. Stan then needed an additional surgery for spinal stenosis. However, since everything was happening to the left limbs, he was referred to a neurologist. The first neurologist we saw suspected ALS. After several tests, we attended clinic at UCI. Like many others, we prayed it was anything but ALS. July 2018 is when we got the ALS diagnosis. We currently attend the ALS clinic at UCI, and adore our team of physicians, PT, OT, Speech and OUR Manny (medical equipment rep).
UCI put us together with the AMAZING ALS Association, OC Chapter . This team is absolutely a light in the scary journey that we have been forced to embark on. The clinic provides us with a support group that we attend monthly; additionally they teach us how to navigate our way thru the health care system. About 3 months after diagnosis, Stan was having balance issues . The association stepped up with their loan closet for equipment. The loan closet is nothing short of amazing as Medicare only pays for one large piece of equipment every 5 years and we needed to save this for our fantastic power wheel chair.
Last year I participated in the Golf Tournament, we attended the Holiday party (I won the ugly sweater contest) ha-ha, and I did the ALS Irvine Walk and this year Stan will join me. While we cannot change our diagnosis, we can live our best life. We love to travel and did our first cruise last month. We enjoy traveling in our mobility van with our AWESOME orange and black General Lee inspired power wheel chair.
We are fortunate to have a loving and supportive family, and an incredible group of friends, employer (mine, as Stan is retired), doctors, and of course the ALSAOC.
I am a lucky woman as Stan has the sweetest disposition, cutest freckles and never complains, or asks “Why Me?” Since there is nothing we can do to change the diagnosis, we adjust to our changes and live our best life.
Sending love, prayers, and positive energy to you all,
By Maryann Maggs-Eaton
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Thank you for helping us reach our fundraising goal! Together we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by ALS. Our team is committed to raising money to support people in our community with ALS and spread awareness of the urgency to find treatments and a cure. Please consider joining our team in the Walk to Defeat ALS® or choose a team member from the list and donate to our cause.
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP
Every 90 minutes a person in this country is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes another person will lose their battle against this disease. ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries.
That’s why we’re participating in the Walk to Defeat ALS. To bring hope. To raise awareness. To provide resources and services to families free of charge. To help unlock the mystery of ALS and find the key to treatments a cure. Will you join us?
ABOUT ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. The life expectancy of a person with ALS averages 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis.
ALS can strike anyone. Presently there is no known cause of the disease, yet it still costs loved ones an average of $250,000 a year to provide the care people living with ALS and their families need. Join the movement to provide help and hope today!
