Making It Possible #23 – Kimball Yorston
My family’s journey with ALS started late last year (2025). I had experienced foot drop and weakness in my left leg and this affected my ability to continue working on the front lines as a Firefighter and Primary Care Paramedic.
The past year has been filled with uncertainty and new challenges. The support of the ALS Society of Alberta has been overwhelming in regards to equipment and support they provide us as we start this journey.
I have had to learn to transition from being the person who provided help to others, to someone who now has to accept help myself. That new reality has not been easy to accept. For most of my life, I have been in a role where I was the one responding when others needed support. Learning to slow down, ask for help, and rely on others has been one of the biggest adjustments for me.
Support from family and friends has made it easier every day. The equipment loans provided to me by the ALS Society of Alberta have allowed me to stay at work, in a new role as a Fire Prevention Officer. This kindness has provided me with some stability as my ability to navigate the physical challenges of ALS progresses.
ALS may be a chapter in my book of life, but it is not the title of it. The focus now is sharing my experiences with my support network. We will be taking a family trip this summer to Japan and Thailand, with a simple goal: making memories and sharing in the most valuable asset, time.
