I'm actually 13 and don't have ALS, my dad does. When we found out, its the second time in my entire life I've seen my dad cry. It hasn't been the same since.

I managed to not let it interfere with my school work, but he couldn't help me with homework anymore. It drove me crazy cuz I couldn't always help him, and he'd get mad, and I'd get mad cuz he wouldn't say thank you when I did do something for him.

Me and mom had a long talk. But what makes me mad, is that even most of the doctors say that he's doing pretty good for having ALS since last year, and mom keeps telling everyone that he's not that good. I figure he could be doing a lot better, but also alot worse, so I tell people what I think.

God has helped out a lot. I used to get mad and not want to go to church cuz he was just getting worse and I know that if I tell people he's getting worse, they might give up, like I did once. But I think that If I say that he's ok, they will pray even harder, oh well.

I just want to let people with ALS and without, to know that even if they're having a hard time, they have to put themselves in the other person's shoes cause their life is just as hard.

That's it. If you have any other feelings on this, write me.

Thanx,

Katie
Arkansas

RFL editor's note: Shortly after this letter was published, Katie's father died from ALS. Her faith and her family have helped her to cope with this great loss and she's doing fine.