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“ALS: Anyone’s
  Life Story”
May 2007
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MDA’s ALS Division introduces you to 31 people  - one each day for the month of May - who are living with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease). 

This series was inspired by Augie Nieto, ALS Division Co-Chairperson, who says that since his ALS diagnosis, instead of striving for success, his goal each day is to be significant.

In their own words, otherwise “ordinary” people describe the impact of living with a progressive, incurable and deadly disease. But their stories also tell how ALS has brought new significance to their lives in ways that you might not expect. 

ALS can become anyone’s life story. Please join MDA’s world-leading effort to stop it. 

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Charles H. Dyer, Jr.

Name: Charles H. Dyer, Jr.

City, State: Jonesboro, Georgia

Age:  64

Family:
Spouse: Saralyn S. Dyer, Sons: Charles H. Dyer, III and Chad S. Dyer, Grandchildren: Meghan and Zachary Dyer.

Hobbies/Interests: Target shooting, light mechanic work, fishing, spending time with my two grandchildren, and looking forward to a new grandchild in August.

Date of ALS diagnosis: August 2003

Life before ALS: I have always been athletic, and I enjoyed participating in various sports. I worked for Delta Air Lines for thirty-eight years and retired in January 2002, as an Engine Inspector in the Boeing 767 Engine Shop.

Life with ALS: I enjoyed target shooting, fishing, and repairing things around the house. I can never give up just because I have ALS. I must stay active and make this disease run to get me down. I was never good at bird hunting until now. Thanks to the way I shake when I aim, I aim at the whole sky, and the birds don’t stand a chance. I have to keep my humor and be happy with what I can still do and not waste time worrying about what I can’t do. Jesus still loves me, and everything is going to be okay.

How has ALS brought new significance to your life: When I was first diagnosed at the Emory Clinic, which is the greatest place to be a part of, I fell into the trap of making a mental list of all the things that I could not do anymore. That was a waste of time, so I started trying to do whatever I could to see what I could do. Some things I have had to let go, but I have been able to find other things to take place of those that I am able to do. Winston Churchill said it best, “NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER!”
 
 
 
 
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