Offseason "Shout Out" to WhoDat Ladies... (1 Viewer)

[NOLAlady]

How to help ALS research

NOLALady is Steve Gleason's mom (Gail Gleason).

Ms. Gleason, if you're out there, we're still very grateful for Steve, you and your family. We are also proud of the ALS foundation and events you sponsor/participate in. It was also a touch of class the way Steve and your family graciously accepted the apology from the Atlanta sports jock.

Just another indicator & reason why the WhoDat ladies are the best on the planet!

Thanks, ndcc. It's fun to see this thread revived now and then.

First, I'd like to thank the WhoDat nation for their response to the Atlanta shock jocks sick attempt at humor. The station's response was in large part due to the WhoDat outpouring of support for Steve.

While the passion is still there, here is an action step that everyone can take to support Steve and other ALS patients. Please contact your senators and representative about it.

I just posted this in another thread (Gleason takes the high road) but I'll repeat it here:

Just got a notice from the National ALS Organization that the House Appropriations Committee approved legislation to provide an additional $7.5 million in continued funding for the ALS Research Program (ALSRP) at the Department of Defense! That makes the trip to WA, DC well worth it!

We have to keep pushing it through the votes in the House and Senate.

You can all help Steve by contacting your Senators and Representatives and encouraging them to vote for "continued funding for the ALS Research Program (ALSRP) at the Department of Defense."

They are more inclined to support "continued funding."

Here is the full bulletin from the ALS Organization:
"Committee Approves $7.5 Million for ALSRP
The House Appropriations Committee approved legislation to provide an additional $7.5 million in continued funding for the ALS Research Program (ALSRP) at the Department of Defense. If enacted, it would bring total funding for the program to nearly $50 million.

The trip to Washington last month for National ALS Advocacy Day, the online virtual Advocacy Day, and the outreach to Members of Congress in support of the ALSRP has helped make this funding possible!

The bill next heads to the House floor for a vote and the Senate also must act on its version of the legislation. Please contact them and encourage them to vote for continued funding for the ALS Research Program (ALSRP) at the Department of Defense."

Thanks again for all your support.

 

[NOLAlady]

Some answers about ALS treatments

NOLALady is Steve Gleason's mom (Gail Gleason).

Ms. Gleason, if you're out there, we're still very grateful for Steve, you and your family. We are also proud of the ALS foundation and events you sponsor/participate in. It was also a touch of class the way Steve and your family graciously accepted the apology from the Atlanta sports jock.

Just another indicator & reason why the WhoDat ladies are the best on the planet!

In the other thread there was a question about ALS treatments.
Here was my response:

I recently attended the ALS Advocacy Convention in Washington, DC, and a significant part of it was related to the current state of ALS research. I was also invited by my representative Cathy McMorris-Rodgers to the Brain Research/Neuroscience caucus that was being held at the same time.

There is no cure and the expected lifespan would be 2.5 to 5 years. 50% die within 3 years, 20% within 5 years, and 10% within 10 years. About 5,600 people are diagnosed each year. Most are between ages 40-70. It is 20% more common in men. Military veterans and athletes are are more likely to get it. There are two main types: familial (it runs in families) and sporadic (no family history). It is suspected that those who live longer, such as Steven Hawkings, have another form of disease.

There is no reversing the course of the disease, so currently available treatments try to slow progression.

Only one medication specifically for ALS, Riluzole, has been approved by the FDA, and patients are told that it would add only a few months to life expectancy. It has side effects and is very expensive. There also non-specific medications available for spasticity, anti-inflammatory drugs, and pain.

Daily physical therapy, message, and stretching is important for cramping, pain, and to prevent permanent contraction. A high-energy diet is necessary and requires a feeding tube.

Steve has undergone several procedures, including a diaphragm pacing surgery to insert electrodes on his diaphragm which helps with breathing and reportedly can add 16 months, one to reduce the amount of saliva produced, and those to insert the feeding and urinary tube. Future procedures may include a breathing tube of some kind such as O.J. Brigance uses.

There are opportunities to participate in clinical trials of experimental drugs, including stem cell trials, and patients have experienced benefits, but the drugs must continue through the research process and are not available outside the trial. The patients can request compassionate use for access to the drugs outside clinical trials, but access is complex, time consuming, and expensive.

If you have further questions, I will do my best to answer them.

Please follow through and contact your representatives and senators and encourage them to vote per my other post.

 

[SharonT]

While the passion is still there, here is an action step that everyone can take to support Steve and other ALS patients.

You can all help Steve by contacting your Senators and Representatives and encouraging them to vote for "continued funding for the ALS Research Program (ALSRP) at the Department of Defense."

Edit: I moved my email response to this thread: Team Gleason Takes the High Road: Releases Statement and encourage everyone to keep emailing representatives throughout the year, to keep this subject on the front burner.

Continue on, WhoDat Ladies...

 

[Dre]

I'm surprised this thread has become so popular...it's unusual for women to love talking about theselves

 

[ndcc]

In the other thread there was a question about ALS treatments.
Here was my response:

I recently attended the ALS Advocacy Convention in Washington, DC, and a significant part of it was related to the current state of ALS research. I was also invited by my representative Cathy McMorris-Rodgers to the Brain Research/Neuroscience caucus that was being held at the same time.

There is no cure and the expected lifespan would be 2.5 to 5 years. 50% die within 3 years, 20% within 5 years, and 10% within 10 years. About 5,600 people are diagnosed each year. Most are between ages 40-70. It is 20% more common in men. Military veterans and athletes are are more likely to get it. There are two main types: familial (it runs in families) and sporadic (no family history). It is suspected that those who live longer, such as Steven Hawkings, have another form of disease.

There is no reversing the course of the disease, so currently available treatments try to slow progression.

Only one medication specifically for ALS, Riluzole, has been approved by the FDA, and patients are told that it would add only a few months to life expectancy. It has side effects and is very expensive. There also non-specific medications available for spasticity, anti-inflammatory drugs, and pain.

Daily physical therapy, message, and stretching is important for cramping, pain, and to prevent permanent contraction. A high-energy diet is necessary and requires a feeding tube.

Steve has undergone several procedures, including a diaphragm pacing surgery to insert electrodes on his diaphragm which helps with breathing and reportedly can add 16 months, one to reduce the amount of saliva produced, and those to insert the feeding and urinary tube. Future procedures may include a breathing tube of some kind such as O.J. Brigance uses.

There are opportunities to participate in clinical trials of experimental drugs, including stem cell trials, and patients have experienced benefits, but the drugs must continue through the research process and are not available outside the trial. The patients can request compassionate use for access to the drugs outside clinical trials, but access is complex, time consuming, and expensive.

If you have further questions, I will do my best to answer them.

Please follow through and contact your representatives and senators and encourage them to vote per my other post.

Always good to hear from you, Mrs. Gleason (Gail).

Is Steve starting to get depressed? Feedback in recent weeks/month seem to indicate that he's having a rough time with this terrible condition. As always, know that the WhoDat Nation will remember him in their (our) prayers.

Hopefully, there will be a breakthrough in the treatment (cure) of ALS in the near future.

Great to hear from other ladies as well.

Haven't heard from mylilbro23 or 504Girl for quite some time.

 

[NOLAlady]

Thanks you for asking, NDCC.

Everyone involved with Steve and this battle goes through bouts of being down. However, we are a TEAM and we do our best to pick one another up. Steve has been very active of late with the things that are happening with ALS progress, including participating in a Microsoft Geekathon, developing the AnswerALS initiative, and working with Senator Vitter (LA) and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA) to pass the Steve Gleason ACT to get medicare/Medicaid to allow modern technology so pALS can communicate. Team Gleason is also working on Right to Choose legislation that will allow pALS access to promising medication before it is entirely approved by the FDA. All this and his family, Michel and Rivers, and helping improve the lives of others with ALS motivates him to keep going which ain't easy, but it's awesome.

 

[ndcc]

Guys, feel free to jump in after the ladies post.

Ladies: Many of us believe we have the most knowledgeable female fan base. After the NFL CBA details get worked out, we'll not have time for sidebar. But since this is a slow time, why not get your input...

1. How did you become interested in football? (parent, friend, you were an athlete in school, etc.)

2. Are you related to (or are you/have you been in a relationship with) a football player? For example: mylilbro23 is Pierre Thomas' sister.

3. Have you surprised/shocked anyone who assumed you knew nothing about football because you're a female (...we know this happens; what's your story)?

4. Why the Saints?

5. Anything else you'd like to add.

I think this will be interesting and enlightening; looking forward to it.

Thanks in advance for your input(s).

Any new WhoDat ladies since 2015... feel free to introduce yourself-- and “Welcome Aboard!”

For NOLAlady (Steve Gleason’s mom), any update on your son?

 

[ndcc]

Thanks you for asking, NDCC.

Everyone involved with Steve and this battle goes through bouts of being down. However, we are a TEAM and we do our best to pick one another up. Steve has been very active of late with the things that are happening with ALS progress, including participating in a Microsoft Geekathon, developing the AnswerALS initiative, and working with Senator Vitter (LA) and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA) to pass the Steve Gleason ACT to get medicare/Medicaid to allow modern technology so pALS can communicate. Team Gleason is also working on Right to Choose legislation that will allow pALS access to promising medication before it is entirely approved by the FDA. All this and his family, Michel and Rivers, and helping improve the lives of others with ALS motivates him to keep going which ain't easy, but it's awesome.

How is your family doing, all things considered?

 

[bearze34]

Got a pic? What are you wearing? Saints gear?

 

[saintsmarchin]

is this a post that was brought back to entice Watson.. because I say good show.

 

[UFCSaint]

I'd never watched a football game before I came to Knoxville, TN to go to school. My main sport were swimming which I was doing at a fairly high level, so I was spending most of my spare time either in the gym or in the pool. My father was the only one interested in sports in my family and only soccer and biking.

Well - shortly after my arrivals some friends brought me to a Vols game and I was hooked - line and sinkers and all. I just loved this game. I started reading up on the rules and as I began to learn my fascination with the game deepened. Morten was drafted by the Saints a short while after I got back home - and I started following the black and gold. The Dome patrol turned me into a hard core WHO DAT!

Following the Saints was hard in those early years, but thanks to friends who would send me articles and video tapes, I held on. Finally around 2000 they started airing regular season games here - even though there was far between the Saints games.

It became kind of a curiosity in my family because most of them couldn't understand what I was talking about. Finally after years of trying I managed to convince my husband that we should go to a Saints game in Tampa while vacationing in Orlando - little knowing that in a span of one game he would go from indifferent to being a die hard fan OF THE WRONG TEAM

And yes - I get that blank surprised stare a lot when I start to talk football. Football fans here are mostly male and under 30. I definitely do not fit into their ideas of what a football fan should be LOL. I've been playing FF with the same group for 6 years and since my username (same as here) is gender neutral, it wasn't until about 2 years ago that they found out that I was a woman - to the big surprise of most of them - especially since I have won that league 3 times over that 6 years period

We used to have a big group of Saints fans in Knoxville that met up every Sunday to watch Saints games at a few local sports bars (this was before Sunday ticket, etc.) At one point we had up to 50 people showing up.