ALS is always a grim tale to tell, and to hear. Sorry. What if we could tell a parallel ALS tale that was the opposite of grim? I have an idea. Read on. ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, is generally defined as a progressive, neurodegenerative illness with no...
The Hummingbird Fund is gaining notice which makes me really happy. Our mission is clear, and dare I say boldly stated: Ending ALS. Starting with all of us. The Hummingbird Fund stands on three pillars: access, innovation, and advocacy. We are on a mission to end...
--It's time a for a quick check-in with JimBob and his pal DeltaMae. --JimBob, tell us how you're doing these days. "First, let me thank you for not tilting your head to one side while asking how I'm feeling. It's a fair question, but, Lord, it's hard to answer. As...
A few years ago, our son William led a pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain. He had a small flock of pilgrims, or peregrinos as they are known along the Camino. Exactly two peregrinos: his parents. William selected the route, made the...
Robb Elementary School, Uvalde, Texas, May 24th, 2022... When there are no more words to approximate the utter gut-wrenching anguish of a desperately grieving parent, whose child has been slaughtered, at school, during reading group, or a spelling test... When the...
The National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland is the world's largest center for biomedical research. The NIH is comprised of 27 clinical centers, among them the NINDS, or the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke. The NINDS has an enticing...
"I hope you know how loved you are!" "You are so loved." "People love you." Over and over and over again I have received these sincere exclamations that are meant to remind me of the bountiful love that surrounds me. I am most often without adequate words in response....
My wife Peggy grew up on a small lake north of Chicago. The brick house had a long, sloping back yard bordered by giant oak trees and a split rail fence. A slightly wobbly, wooden pier jutted out into the lake, making it the perfect launch pad for children to come...
Growing up I never considered Jimmy a nickname. An uncle once tried to call me Jimbo, which I flatly rejected. Jimmy was my name. I loved the way it rolled off my tongue: "Jimmy Ogan". My name had symmetry and a hint of alliteration. In middle school, all the Jimmys...
It's time to introduce you to the story of Lefty and Righty. The year is 1956. The place is the sweet womb of one Bernice Jean Galbraith Ogan, a 27 year old school teacher in Lorain, Ohio. You'll remember Lorain, for its famous, polluted Black River that flamed its...
Today, we mark two years since our beloved Jim passed away. Our Plews-Ogan family, including Rowan and baby Phoebe, Erin and Hal, and Will and Monika, are gathering for the weekend as we will every year. This year, we’re in Minneapolis. The time together has given us...