By Beth David, Editor
Student athletes and their parents are showing support for long time basketball and softball coach Glenn Gardner, who has been diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, aka, Lou Gehrig’s disease). The disease affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and causes loss of muscle control. It is a progressive disease with no cure. Treatments are also not reliable, and are extremely expensive.
Mr. Gardner’s wife Paula, who served on the Fairhaven School Committee, said the first time he went to pick up his prescription at CVS, he had to leave it there. It was $1600 for a one month supply.
Ms. Gardner said that Glenn is getting weaker, but he is determined to finish out the basketball season with his teams at Old Rochester Regional, that still have some tournament play ahead.
“Just to talk he has to stop and take a breath,” said Ms. Gardner. “It’s gotten worse over the last couple of months.”
She said he is probably two years into the disease, but was not diagnosed until November.
Long time friends Susan Loo and Cathy Silva have organized a fund-raiser to help the family pay for some of the medical costs.
“There are a lot of expenses to this disease, unfortunately,” said Ms. Gardner.
She said Glenn is being treated at Mass. General Hospital, and is trying to get them and his insurance to help with some of the medication costs.
“The process is very slow,” she said.
Meanwhile, the disease progresses. And, once the muscle loss happens, it does not come back.
All they can hope for is to slow the disease’s progression, and alleviate some of the symptoms.
“It only slows things down,” she said about the drug he is trying to get. “Everybody is different. He has to try it and see if it works.”
Glenn is also trying to get on a new drug as part of a trial at Mass. General.
He has been going to practices, and plans on doing it as long as he can. He is the head coach for junior varsity at ORR, and the assistant coach for varsity.
“He comes home at night exhausted,” said Ms. Gardner. “But I think it’s good for him to stay involved as long as he can.”
It’s important for him to eat, she said, and keep up his weight. He already lost 25 pounds of muscle.
“I’m always giving him ice cream, things that go down easy and keep the calories up,” she said.
They are hoping the new drug, in combination with the other drug, when they can afford it, will slow the progression of the disease long enough for the medical profession to “come up with something.”
At the moment, though, he is not on either drug. They are waiting for Mass. General to get back to them about the trial, and the other drug is financially out of reach.
They both know there is no recovery, though. Once the muscle is lost, it’s lost.
“But we’re hoping the symptoms will be relieved a little and his breathing will be better, and it won’t progress,” said Ms. Gardner. “We’re trying to hold it at bay for awhile. We’re praying for a miracle.”
She said they are thankful for the support they have received so far.
“People are just coming out of the woodwork,” said Ms. Gardner, including co-workers from his first job, out of state jobs, parents, students, athletes.
The athletes at ORR made bracelets that they are selling.
The fund-raiser is a comedy show on Monday, 3/13, at the Century House, 107 South Main Street, Acushnet, with hors d’oeuvres from 6:30–8:30 p.m., and comedy show and auction following. For tickets ($50 each), contact Susan Loo, 774-510-0246. Donations for raffles are also welcome, such as gift certificates to restaurants, gift baskets, tickets to athletic events, etc.
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