Lori Cohen, Larkspur, California
The Cohen Family in Hawaii
Strength
does not always equate with physical might; it also relates to a person’s
capacity to handle trying circumstances.
Lori Cohen, 51, wife, mother, and friend adeptly copes with challenging
situations each day since being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in June 2010. Those with this
neurodegenerative muscular disease typically live two to five years following
their diagnoses. These sobering
figures have compelled Cohen to inform others about ALS, which affects a
person’s ability to walk, eat, speak and breathe.
This
May, The ALS Association Golden West Chapter is recognizing Cohen and her
husband and caregiver Adam during ALS Awareness Month for the annual “ALS
Across America” campaign. This
national campaign pays tribute to people with ALS and their caregivers as role
models. These individuals inspire
The Association and the ALS community as they make a positive difference by
spreading ALS awareness and by living their lives to the fullest.
“Lori inspires everyone with
her ‘stay strong and be positive’ attitude,” said
Jennifer Stevens, her close friend of 15 years. “I am always amazed at just how upbeat she is all the
time. She embraces life and lives
in the moment.”
Lori
met her husband Adam on a blind date and they have been married for 21 years. They have
three daughters, Samantha, 16; Shelby, 14; and Shayna, 11. Cohen’s family provides her with the
comfort, care and love needed to live with a debilitating disease like Lou
Gehrig’s Disease. She was
diagnosed with ALS in June 2010 after having problems with her speech. Today, she uses a computer for email
and Boogie Board Writer to help her to communicate. “My hands have
atrophy, so it's hard to work with buttons and zippers and open drinks,” Cohen
said. But she maintains an active lifestyle through yoga,
running and spin classes. Cohen also maintains a
positive attitude. “I believe that
the mind controls our body,” she said. She works with a counselor and uses
mental exercises, active meditation and guided imagery help to keep her spirits
aloft and her attitude positive in fighting ALS.
Cohen’s buoyant outlook rouses those who work at the
chapter. According to Jenica
Lancy, the chapter’s director of marketing and communications, “Lori strives to
educate others around her about the effects that Lou Gehrig’s Disease has on
people and their families.” Cohen’s
friends have also joined in the fight and rallied together to hold a
special event for her on May 17 at
the Mt. Tam Racket Club, where Cohen has been a long-time member, to raise
awareness of ALS within their community.
Throughout
ALS Awareness Month, Cohen and her friend Jennifer Stevens will prepare for the
8th Annual Napa Valley Ride to Defeat ALS. This one-day,
fully-supported cycling event takes place Saturday, June 30, 2012 in
Yountville, California. The Napa Valley Ride to Defeat ALS raises funds to
support the mission and vision of the California Chapters of The ALS
Association to create a world without ALS. Participants include supporters from the Golden West Chapter
as well as those from the Greater Sacramento, Orange County and Greater San
Diego Chapters. With their shared
vision, mission and commitment to provide services and information about ALS in
their respective areas, this places The ALS Association
as the leader in care services, research, and public policy throughout the
state. Stevens has been a volunteer on the Ride Planning committee and is the
team captain of “Team Cohen.”
“Since I have a friend who is living with
ALS, I feel a huge sense of urgency to do whatever I can to make an impact,”
Stevens said. “I want to help in whatever way possible to raise money to
support advances in research, patient care and public policy.”
“The
only way to prevent this disease from taking more lives is to find a cure or at
least some way to extend the life of its sufferers in a substantial way— by
years, not just months,” said Stevens. “Since there is not a base of survivors
like there are with other illnesses, it is even more important for people who
do not have ALS to fight for those who are facing the disease.”
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