Paul Light, Lexington, Kentucky
In June 2011, doctors diagnosed Paul Light with Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Light has refused to let the disease impact his activities, even though he has lost the use of his hands, wears a foot brace and utilizes a cane and walker for support. He and his wife and primary caregiver Pam work closely with The ALS Association’s Kentucky Chapter to help others with the disease and educate their community about ALS.
Paul and Pam Light
The chapter’s Executive Director Mari Bacon calls the Lights “very positive people.” The couple’s proactive stance in coping with the disease helps them to endure life with ALS. Both Lights attend the chapter’s monthly Lexington support group meetings where families can offer one another advice on living with the disease. Light also participates in the chapter’s “An Ear When You Need One.” This program consists of a group of people with ALS, caregivers, and friends of the chapter who share their phone numbers and email addresses with each other, thus allowing them to contact one another for information and advice as needed.
Light, a onetime employee at IBM who also served in the U.S. Navy from 1963 1967, has encountered multiple problems with the disease. He endures constant muscle tremors and cramps. He uses finger braces at night to prevent his fingers from curling and locking up. ALS easily tires him, and he depends on patient aids to get dressed and cook. Regardless of these challenges, Light’s reliance on his Christian faith, family, friends and the resources at the chapter provide him with strength to fight Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Neither Light nor his spouse yields to self pity. They support other families battling the disease by attending the chapter’s annual Walk to Defeat ALSŪ in Lexington. This event raises monies for research and services to benefit families living with ALS. In addition, Light, 67, has participated in a clinical trial study at the University of Kentucky since August 2011.
“Paul and Pam inspire us with their willingness to attend chapter functions and help others with ALS,” said Bacon. “Their fortitude keeps us focused on achieving our vision of a world without ALS.”
Bacon said the Lights plan to attend the National ALS Advocacy Day and Public Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., in May with staff and volunteers from the chapter.
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