Modified from Laurie’s Making It Possible Stories, written by her between 2022 and 2024.
“My journey with ALS began on March 14, 2019. I had just come home from Mardi Gras in New Orleans, still full of stories and sunshine. The very next day, I walked into a neurologist’s office, expecting a quick visit about a weak hand and some slurred speech. Instead, I heard the words, ‘You have ALS.’ In that moment, everything changed.
But here’s the thing, I chose to live. I chose to smile. I chose to love deeply.
ALS brought many changes. I lost my ability to walk, talk, and use my hands. But I gained something too. I gained an overwhelming reminder of what matters most. My family, my incredible husband of more than three decades, our children, and most especially, our two beautiful granddaughters, Blake and Annie. They are my heart. My girls and I found new ways to communicate, mostly with yes/no questions, a lot of patient pauses, and more love than words can hold. They filled my heart every single day.
Over time, I traded heels for wheels, speech for a device, and independence for the helping hands of those I love most. But I never gave up. That was never in my nature. I stayed strong. I stayed grateful. I stayed Lori.
We continued to travel when we could. We celebrated milestones, laughed often, and leaned on the community that surrounded us with kindness and care. The ALS Society of Alberta was a part of that village, helping to make life safer and more comfortable through the Equipment Loan Program and their unwavering support.
Even when I couldn't speak, I found ways to say what mattered. “Please don’t feel sorry for me. Just smile.” Life isn’t perfect, but it’s so very good.
ALS did not get all of me. I refused to let it take my spirit, my love, or my joy. We lived with open hearts, honest emotions, and immense gratitude. I believed in hope, in research, and in a future without this disease. And I believed in making life count. Making it count for myself and making it count for others.
Please, love one another as we did. Celebrate your people. Say the words. Laugh hard. Be kind. And remember, that life is good."
In Loving Memory of Lori Huolt.