Making It Possible #3 – Gil Espejo
Shortly after retiring as a school principal, I volunteered for a Child Advocacy Centre in Edmonton. My role was a Child Advocate, accompanying children in the courtroom as they testify against their perpetrators. As a volunteer at the Zebra Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, I met a Service Dog, Dogs With Wings (DWW) Fletcher, who accompanied children during their time at the Zebra Centre and in the courthouse.
I was amazed with the comfort DWW Fletcher provided the children. There were several cases in which the children could not testify without his presence.
I was hooked. I learned about the DWW Assistance Dogs Society where Fletcher was raised and trained. My wife and I started volunteering with DWW in January of 2016. Our task was to puppy raise DWW Quinn who graduated as a facility dog and now works with the Central Alberta Advocacy Centre in Red Deer. DWW Quinn does the same type of work as what DWW Fletcher did. In between puppy raising, my wife and I whelped 12 litters for DWW – a total of 84 healthy puppies!
It was the end of Summer 2025 when I started experiencing shortness of breath and went to Emergency. The ER doctor referred me to a neurologist and in October I had several tests done; blood work and an EMG procedure. In late October, my 3-5 day stay at the hospital for various tests ended up lasting the whole month. On November 25, the diagnosis was confirmed as Bulbar-onset ALS. It was a big surprise as I knew ALS is a terminal disease. The prognosis was 12-18 months of life left.
My initial reaction was mixed. I knew I had a life-ending disease with no cure. It might be strange to some but I found that the prognosis to be a priceless gift to some degree. I informed my family and my teenage grandchildren were very sad, but I told them that since we all have to pass away, I am grateful that I have the time to help my wife prepare for a future without me. I am lucky to have the opportunity to say farewell to relatives and friends, unlike some people I know who died unexpectedly and never really had the opportunity to say goodbye to their loved ones.
The biggest challenge I have is learning the cycle of my condition. There are days when I feel strong with only the limitation of short breaths. Then there are days that I have to use the equipment that the ALS Society of Alberta graciously lent me, including a wheel chair. I get regular visits from my ALS Client Services Coordinator, Christy. The coordination between her and the ALS team at the Kaye Clinic, U of A Hospital is seamless. Before I knew what equipment I needed, several devices including a Bipap machine, a ventilator, a LVR, and a cough assist machine were already available. My next biggest challenge is to move from our two storey home to an apartment type condo that is wheel chair friendly. Decluttering seems like an endless task. I am very appreciative of the ALS support groups through in person meetings and Zoom. The sessions are very informative and the group members are welcoming, kind, and encouraging.
ALS brought mental and physical challenges but it also provided me a venue to get much closer to my family and friends who visit on a regular basis. The generosity of family, friends, and strangers bring me a lot of joy and happiness. I do not feel alone. I am not alone. The ALS Society of Alberta is an amazing organization. They must have a tough profession helping people in pain and some who lose functions of their body parts. Yet, they are kind, helpful, and patient. They provide information that is not always easy to find.
The ALS Society of Alberta continues to help me in my most difficult times. Christy makes me feel very special and is always very supportive. People’s generosity gives me a lot of hope. Their generous donations help me and others to have the equipment and resources we need to navigate this disease. I am so proud of my family and friends who are helping raise funds and awareness by participating in events like Side by Side for ALS.
Being diagnosed with ALS is a very shocking and hard truth to accept, but my advice is to try your best to not let it define who you are. Being optimistic certainly helps. For those who are newly diagnosed, I suggest for them to do a lot of reading from reliable sources online. ALS has slowed me down physically and a lot of adjustments had to be made. I have a peg tube for nutrition and several devices to help me become more mobile. One can see that there are a number of people afflicted and there is also a lot of research being conducted. In my situation, I am so blessed and grateful that my entire family is very supportive. They help with my mobility issues, take me to appointments, and keep me company when I feel down. Friends visit regularly and that always lifts my spirits.
My adult children and teenage grandchildren have been very helpful. My “main“ caregiver is my wife of 47 years. As a retired nurse, she is familiar with how to administer my medications and she looks after me physically and emotionally. My journey with ALS would have been very difficult without her help.
I am grateful for the ALS Society of Alberta and the many awareness campaigns held in June. I hope these events help others navigating ALS know they are not alone, that many people care, and that important fundraising efforts are underway to one day find a cure for this disease.
