In January of 2002, life as they knew it changed for John Barnhart and his family. That was when he was diagnosed officially with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease). At that time, John was told that he would have two to five years to live.

A former industrial mechanic with Ontario Power Generation, Barnhart has now lived with ALS for seven years.

He first noticed a tingling sensation in his upper lip and a sensation that his tongue was swollen, after receiving a flu shot in 2000. Eventually he started losing muscle in his right hand.

Years before, he had been tested for carpal tunnel syndrome. At that time, he was told he had a very mild case. When he went to a doctor to deal with the carpal tunnel, it was discovered to be something much more serious.

Barnhart was referred to a neurologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, and after all other possibilities were discounted, he was diagnosed with ALS.

Today he can no longer move or speak. He relies on a special machine to communicate. He does this by using the movements of his head to click on each letter as he has to spell each word. He can no longer eat or drink and has relied on a feeding tube inserted into his stomach for three years now for his nourishment and medication. He is totally dependent on others for his every need.

ALS is a disease that attacks the muscles. The muscles fail to receive signals from the brain, which eventually weakens and kills them. The disease does not affect your mind, however, so as you become paralyzed and progressively ill, your brain is still aware of what’s happening. The disease kills by attacking the muscles in the lungs, until they collapse. There is no known cause or cure for this devastating disease.

Barnhart, who lives near Tottenham with his wife and caregiver Ginger, was a very active father of two children, Cheryl and Adam, before his diagnosis. He played hockey and was an active member of his church and is now a grandfather of three - Samantha, Justin and Ethan - although he is no longer able to reach out and hug them.

Barnhart still has a wonderful smile and in spite of it all he said, “ALS is not going to destroy my spirit or steal my joy. I am still a happy man”.

Help raise money to find a cause and a cure for this disease by supporting Barnhart and his family in the Walk For ALS which will be held on Sat., June 7 at the Alliston Christian Reformed Church on Downey Avenue.

The walk will start with registration at 8:30 a.m. You can donate to John and his family by visiting www.als.ca and sponsoring his daughter Cheryl Baillie using a credit card or by contacting Barb Evans.

For more information call Barb Evans at 705-435-2352 or e-mail bjevans@rogers.com. Any donation, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated.