Hello! My name is Heidi Good Swiacki. I have been married to Steve for 25 years, which has been filled with laughter, trust and love. We have 2 great kids, Ashton 22 and Chris 16. I have ALS, aka Lou Gehrigs Disease. I was officially diagnosed March '05, I was just turning 45. This blog will be about a myriad of topics. I will share my ALS story which will hopefully encourage others. It will show that quality of life comes in many forms. I have to tell you up front that there will be some spiritual references. Don't be afraid or turned off by that. Since I have had ALS I have seen many miracles. Let's be realistic, who can be a happy, non-verbal,ventilated quadriplegic without Faith? I hope you will join me and make this an interesting, educational, inspirational forum. Humor and the ability to enjoy life is required! :)


Heidi passed away 3-25-13 :(


August 4, 2013

Hello, Steve here. To help with the healing process, I am going to continue on with Heidi's blog, primarily talking about our lives and how we as a family are learning to live on with Heidi's memories pushing us forward. Topics covered will be geared towards the affects ALS has on loved ones.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Veteran's Day


Thank you for using The ALS Association Mail System.

Message sent to the following recipients:
Nuestra Gente Magazine
San Luis Obispo Tribune
Santa Barbara Independent
Santa Barbara News-Press
Santa Maria Times
Message text follows:

Heidi Good
380 Midten Hof
solvang, CA 93463-2962


November 9, 2012

[recipient address was inserted here]


Dear [recipient name was inserted here],

A few weeks ago, studies found that NFL players are at greater risk of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).  Papers like this one ran stories about the news and rightfully so. But with Veterans Day approaching on Sunday November 11, how many of us know that a much, much larger segment of our population
- military veterans - also is at greater risk of Lou Gehrig's Disease?  

Studies have shown that military veterans are about twice as likely to die from ALS as the general public. It does not matter when or where they served in the military - home or abroad, during a time of peace or war, from World War I to Afghanistan.  Unfortunately, for these heroes and everyone else in the world who is living with ALS, there is no treatment.
There is no cure.  They will die from the disease in an average of just two to five years.

We do not know what causes ALS in veterans or NFL players. Is it head trauma?  Excessive physical activity?  Those are potential risk factors.
But we do know that raising awareness of the risk faced by our veterans not only can let these heroes know about the significant VA benefits that are available, but also help us to find the cause treatment and cure for this horrific disease.

Just as the media published stories about the greater risk faced by NFL players, so too should they report the risks faced by our military heroes who have fought for and defended our nation.

I encourage your readers to visit the Wall of Honor at www.alsa.org.
There, people can read the stories and see the faces of hundreds of veterans living with ALS and those who already have been lost to the disease.  There, they can see that ALS does not simply strike the stars we watch on TV every Sunday, but also our family members, friends and neighbors who have served in the military - our heroes.

Sincerely,


Heidi Good

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1 comment:

  1. journeytogaoNovember 18, 2012 at 7:10 PM

    All you readers and passersby, you know what a ray of inspiration Heidi is. Something else you should know: she's FUN, with a wicked sense of humor and a sharp wit! She is fun to hang out with, and a visit with her and Steve always ends too soon.

    Heidi, thanks for the note about veterans. You'll be glad to know that the Veterans' Day Parade I went to was well attended. Lots of people yelling "Thank you!" at the veterans as they marched or rolled by.

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