Stopping in Carbondale, IL for the night. Lots of wind made for a slow ride today. Had an interview with the local town tribune newspaper, and meeting lots of cool people!
Allen! I am super excited for you man! I am proud to call you my friend and glad God put you in my life. I wished I would have made it to your launching ceremony. I set my alarm for 7pm accidentely. Well I really liked your story about the donkey! And super glue AKA hilbilly stithes works wonders. Tom was asking about you today so I thought I would say hello. Ill keep checkin in as much as I can. Keep on Truckin!
My name is Allen Baumgartner. In 2008 I was diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia, sometimes referred to as the unknown disease. Friedreich's Ataxia is a type of Spinocerebellar Ataxia, a rare and progressive neurological disease that affects the muscle and heart. It causes degeneration of the spine and cerebellum that results in loss of coordination of muscle movements (ataxia) and other symptoms.
Over the course of about a year, I went from having an unusual gait (ie, walk) to a cane to a wheelchair. It was right at this same time that I moved into the wheelchair that I finally received a diagnosis of Friedreich's Ataxia.
When I was diagnosed, I asked myself one question: stop or go?
I chose go. Soon after, I made the decision to ride across country from St. Louis, Missouri using an arm-powered bike called a hand cycle, to raise awareness for my disease.
You can find out more about my trip at my website:
www.FromHereToThere2010.com
Allen! I am super excited for you man! I am proud to call you my friend and glad God put you in my life. I wished I would have made it to your launching ceremony. I set my alarm for 7pm accidentely. Well I really liked your story about the donkey! And super glue AKA hilbilly stithes works wonders. Tom was asking about you today so I thought I would say hello. Ill keep checkin in as much as I can. Keep on Truckin!
ReplyDeleteMay 10, 2010 1:19 AM