In March of 1994, after taking dance lessons for 3 years, Marcie Gibson was planning to try out for the second time in hopes of becoming a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader. The first time Marcie had tried she made it through three cuts but did not make the fourth and final cut. That was in 1991. So in 1994 she was planning on trying again.

For the past 3 years, Marcie had been working very hard to improve her skills as a dancer. She already was an excellent tumbler and cheerleader. She had been a competitive gymnast since she was 9 years old and a cheerleader in junior high, high school and college. Now she wanted to fulfill her dream to become a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader.

In the fall of 1992, during her dance classes, she found her arms would not stay up. She would raise them up and they would just float down. During cheerleading camp in the summer of 1993 she kept falling on her head. This was very unusual for an experienced gymnast such as Marcie.

Just 2 months before tryouts for the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders Marcie, at the age of 23, learned she had ALS.

Tryouts were out of the question. Her short term goal was to finish college. It was the last semester of her senior year at the University of Texas at Arlington. That was a challenge itself. With all the trips to Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and one trip to Baylor Medical Center in Houston finishing her college work was even more difficult.

Marcie Gibson, Spring 1998, 27 years-old

But with her determination and the help of all her professors, Marcie was able to walk across the stage at her graduation earning a degree in Exercise and Sports Studies.

That was almost 5 years ago.

Her life has changed so much since than.

As a teenager and young adult, Marcie was never at home. She was always on the go! Either out with friends or teaching gymnastics. And in her spare time coaching young girls how to be the perfect cheerleader. No mater what age, from elementary school to high school. One girl, Dayna, Marcie coached from the 4th. grade through 12th. grade.

Even after Marcie could no longer raise her arms herself, she would watch Dayna and polish her cheerleading techniques just by talking to her.

This photo was taken in the fall of 1992 - when ALS started making Marcie's arms weak, but we had no idea there was a medical problem - age 21 years.

Today, Marcie no longer works nor can she coach. ALS has stolen the muscle in her arms and this monster is working on her legs. BUT NOT HER SPIRIT !

Each week, she goes to a weekly Bible study group and other days her friends come by and take her to the mall or any where she wants to go.

Last year, 1997, Marcie's story of Living with ALS appeared in both the Dallas Morning News and the Ft. Worth Star Telegram. Her story ran on the local news several times as well as the Jerry Lewis Telethon where Marcie appeared, live on the set, at the Ballpark in Arlington where she was interview by Mike Snyder from KXAS TV Channel 5.

This year Marcie did not appear on the Telethon but I did along with a picture of Marcie. After the Telethon a young lady wanted to meet me. She told me how much seeing Marcie on TV last year had inspired her to go on with her life.

I came home and watched Robin's story on tape. Robin talked about the young lady diagnosed with ALS at such a young age. Even with such a terrible disease this did not stop Marcie from going on with her life and living.

Robin was in the process of being diagnosed with another form of neuromuscular disease called Polymyositis Dermatomyosits. Seeing Marcie gave her hope. Robin had tried to find Marcie last year but had no luck.

Now she found me, Marcie's Mom. I had been interview just before Robin's story aired. We exchanged phone numbers and that very night Robin called Marcie. They arranged to meet the next day.

The next day Robin came to meet Marcie bringing her 2 dozen long stem pink roses.

(Marcie's very favorite flowers are pink roses but Robin had no idea of this.)

She also brought her an angel pen. They visited for over 2 hours. This terrible disease has brought 2 young ladies together that most likely would have never meet. Even thought they have two different diseases they can relate to each other. Robin is only 3 years older than Marcie.

Marcie wants to help make people aware of ALS. She spoke at a ladies breakfast at our church this past August. Talking about how God had prepared her for this disease all her life. She will appear on the Christian TV show Herald of Truth later this year.

Marcie has helped raise money for both ALSA and MDA for ALS research. Her story appeared in the fund-raiser letter for ALSA this past August as well as the summer or '97.

In October she will help host a Celebrity Golf Tournament in Arlington for the second time. All money raised goes for ALS research. Her complete story will appear in the book Journey's with ALS which was put together by David Feigenbaum. Marcie's picture was one of the first 100 faces on the ALS March of Faces Banner.

Anything to help people be more aware of ALS, Marcie wants to be a part of. We must to stop this disease before it destroys any more lives.

Marcie is now 27 years old and having to learn to live with ALS. It is a daily struggle but she is living one day at a time. As we all must do. I am very proud of all she has done and all she is planning to do in the future to raise the awareness about ALS.