In the fall of 2012, after living with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) for six years, Neil Hemming and his family were hit with the knowledge that his condition had progressed to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

香蕉视频直播淭he news (struck) us like a tonne of bricks,香蕉视频直播� said Deana Larsson, Hemming香蕉视频直播檚 daughter, as she teared up. 香蕉视频直播淭here just aren香蕉视频直播檛 any words for how it felt, it was absolutely gut-wrenching.香蕉视频直播�

ALS, or Lou Gehrig香蕉视频直播檚 disease as it香蕉视频直播檚 also known in North America, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease. And although PLS and ALS are related, the former doesn香蕉视频直播檛 always progress to the latter, explained Larsson. 香蕉视频直播淲e thought we were in the clear as it usually transitions within a few years if it香蕉视频直播檚 going to at all.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淎LS can happen to anybody at any time,香蕉视频直播� said Wendy Toyer, executive director of the . 香蕉视频直播淎nd there香蕉视频直播檚 no known cause or known cure.香蕉视频直播�

Currently, there香蕉视频直播檚 anywhere up to 3,000 Canadians living with ALS, and about 400 of those reside within the province: however, each day two or three British Columbians succumb to the disease.

香蕉视频直播淲ith ALS, motor neurons are killed and once the last motor neuron in a muscle is dead, you香蕉视频直播檒l never get it back. It effects everyone differently, but (essentially) your voluntary muscles deteriorate until paralysis. For some, only eye movement remains but the (mind) is still totally fully functional.香蕉视频直播�

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So when her father香蕉视频直播檚 diagnoses came, Larsson, who香蕉视频直播檚 an elementary school teacher and mother to two young daughters, said she began looking for books for her three- and five-year-olds to help them understand what was happening to their grandfather.

香蕉视频直播淭here were a few different things available, but almost every one of them had pictures of somebody in a hospital hooked up to tubes and wires, and this and that,香蕉视频直播� continued Larsson.

香蕉视频直播淵es, (ALS) is real, and I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 trying to pretend it wasn香蕉视频直播檛, I was just looking for a softer presentation that wasn香蕉视频直播檛 so doom and gloom. I do know, obviously, that there香蕉视频直播檚 a lot about ALS that is doom and gloom, but there香蕉视频直播檚 a lot that isn香蕉视频直播檛.

香蕉视频直播淢y dad was still my dad inside, even though his body was failing him, and I wanted that to be the focus (for my children): it香蕉视频直播檚 still Gramps, and no matter what happens, he香蕉视频直播檒l always love you.香蕉视频直播�

So shortly after her father learned of his health deterioration, Larsson sat down and put paper to pen, writing I Love My Gramps香蕉视频直播�a book about ALS for children香蕉视频直播攊n about an hour.

香蕉视频直播淚 knew I could write, I wrote this (book),香蕉视频直播� continued Larsson. 香蕉视频直播淏ut if it香蕉视频直播檚 a children香蕉视频直播檚 book, which is what I had envisioned in my head, I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 draw a stick person to save my life, so I needed (to find) somebody who has a vision, has a heart for it, and is willing to help me out.香蕉视频直播�

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With that in mind, Larsson says she spoke with a pastor at her church and was directed to one of the congregation香蕉视频直播檚 youth members, Shannon Budau.

香蕉视频直播淒eana approached me out of the blue,香蕉视频直播� recalled Budau. 香蕉视频直播淪he told me our pastor had referred her to me because I was artsy and liked drawing. She told me she had roughed up this children香蕉视频直播檚 book and 香蕉视频直播� asked me if I wanted to be part of it.

香蕉视频直播淚 was right out of high school and had no experience illustrating a book, especially a children香蕉视频直播檚 book, but I thought this could be a fun project,香蕉视频直播� continued Budau.

However, before either party made a commitment to the other, Budau drew her vision for the story香蕉视频直播檚 main character and sent it to Larsson.

It was then, while looking at the little blonde girl with pigtails Budau had drawn for the book, that Larsson knew she香蕉视频直播檇 found her illustrator.

香蕉视频直播淚 just fell in love with that little girl,香蕉视频直播� said Larsson. 香蕉视频直播淚 knew then Shannon had to be the illustrator.香蕉视频直播�

After that, Shannon says she 香蕉视频直播渟tarted falling in love with the story along with Deana,香蕉视频直播� and used her knowledge of the family and their stories to draw a series of pictures she believed would help children understand the book香蕉视频直播檚 message.

香蕉视频直播淚 blended (Neil香蕉视频直播檚) multiple grandchildren together into that one little girl,香蕉视频直播� explained Budau. 香蕉视频直播淚 wanted (the images) to look childlike and cartoony, but I also wanted it to be real and bright and happy.香蕉视频直播�

So in her spare time, Budau would put pencil crayon to sketch pad and delve into the world of I Love My Gramps, bringing Larsson香蕉视频直播檚 words to life on the page.

香蕉视频直播淒eana told me stories about how her dad made a (wooden) train and boxes (for the grandkids), and I really made sure those were part of it,香蕉视频直播� said Budau.

香蕉视频直播淚 saw the progression in Neil,香蕉视频直播� Budau continued. 香蕉视频直播淭his disease takes (people) away even before they香蕉视频直播檙e gone. It was really rough the last few months, watching him still be present in his mind but having his body not working.

香蕉视频直播淪o I really see the value in this book, and can香蕉视频直播檛 wait to read it to my children when I have them and teach them about this disease, and how there香蕉视频直播檚 still hope even if they lose somebody. (No matter what,) there香蕉视频直播檚 still good things that come from life.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淪tories can be told over and over again,香蕉视频直播� added Toyer. 香蕉视频直播淭hat helps children understand. This (book) is a way to not only provide a tool, but to include the child in the family. ALS doesn香蕉视频直播檛 just happen to one person, it happens to the whole family, and (projects like theses) give children the acknowledgement they need.香蕉视频直播�

But more than a tool, Larsson says the book is also a way for her to give back to those who helped her family through such a difficult time: 50 per cent of the book香蕉视频直播檚 $20 cost will be donated to the ALS Society of BC.

香蕉视频直播淲ithout the ALS Society, my dad香蕉视频直播檚 journey would have been completely different,香蕉视频直播� explained Larsson. 香蕉视频直播淭he equipment they had to offer: my dad had wheelchairs, walkers, special equipment in the bathroom, a hospital bed, a lift, and a special chair in the living room that would lift him to standing. We didn香蕉视频直播檛 pay for any of (them), they were on loan from the ALS Society.

香蕉视频直播淚f families were to have to pay for those things, I don香蕉视频直播檛 see how they could. So when people donate to the Ice Bucket Challenge, or to the Walk, or buy a book where half of the proceeds go to the ALS Society, it might not seem like a big deal (at the time), but to the people in those families (dealing with ALS), it香蕉视频直播檚 life changing.香蕉视频直播�

The official book launch for I Love My Gramps isn香蕉视频直播檛 until June 16, however, copies of the book are already available for purchase by emailing ILoveMyGrampsbyDeanaLarsson@gmail.com. Larsson and Budau will also be at the , which is on Saturday, June 9, at Mill Lake Park in Abbotsford, selling copies of the book.

Sarah.Gawdin@theprogress.com
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