The A.L.S. Ice Bucket Challenge took the nation by storm over the summer. Millions of Americans dumped a bucket of cold water over the head to support those affected by A.L.S. and over $115 million was raised for research. Many asked, how do those affected by A.L.S. respond to the challenge?
In a recent article, Roni Rabyn describes her father's experience with A.L.S. Her father, David Roni, started walking with a limp when she was in college. Her parents referred to the disease as a, "back problem" keeping her and her younger sister in the dark. At 19, her mother told her the truth: her father was dying from A.L.S. She watched her father's health deteriorated, but never his spirit. He stayed in good spirits and kept his humor until the end, even when he could barely talk. He swam laps at the pool to slow down the disease, but it came and took over his body.
Rabyn also took time to describe the community's reaction. There were those who drifted away to give the family their space, something they did not want. However, there were the good ones who stayed with the family and through all their support behind them. When the A.L.S. Ice Bucket Challenge started, Rabyn did not appreciate it and felt people were being fake. However, when she saw patients getting into it and all the money raised, she realized how much awareness was raised and began to appreciate it more.
Although A.L.S. is a horrific disease that took her father from her, Rabyn continued to see the greatness within the situation; she saw what made her father truly great and the people around her. The fact that her father kept good spirits and remained determined is something beautiful in the face of tragedy. Greatness lies within determination and strength through tragedy. Another great thing Rabyn recognized was the A.L.S. Ice Bucket Challenge. She first saw it as in-genuine but saw it in its true glory when those struck with the disease got a chance to participate. In her conclusion, Rabyn urges readers to take on a new challenge:continue raising awareness for this horrific disease; find a cure.
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ReplyDeleteMeg, I like how your article connected to a current event in modern media. Also, the article provided readers with an incentive to help others and "be great". Well done!
ReplyDeleteMeg, good post, but please make sure you get your articles from "scholarly" sources ( New York Times, the Atlantic, Time, Wall Street Journal, etc)
ReplyDeleteMeg, I really liked how you connected something so relevant to our greatness theme. Considering most of us have done the ALS ice bucket challenge, it is so nice to think that doing the challenge truly does help.
ReplyDeleteMeg, I also like how you write about something that is an every day ordeal. It really just goes to show how everyone pitching in a little can make a massive impression on
ReplyDeletesomeones life.