John Philip Moschel:
John passed away on December 6, 2007, from ALS (Lou Gerhig's disease). His obituary can be found below.
Nila Jo (Sales) Perkins:
Nila passed away on June 14, 2008 in Colton, California from ALS, or Lou Gerhig's disease. Although I haven't been able to find an obituary, there was a touching photo and paragraph about her in a publication called NeuroTalk, in an article titled "In search of the face of Lou Gehrig's disease "
Leo Greene, Staff Writer
(Article Launched:10/08/2006)
Leo Greene, Staff Writer
(Article Launched:10/08/2006)
"I think ALS is the loneliest disease," said Nila Perkins from her room at the Reche Canyon Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Colton.
The 53-year-old Nila had been an active woman, a longtime executive for the Girl Scouts.
In 2002, she first experienced shaking in her hands and difficulty negotiating stairs.
Nila knew something wasn't quite right. But when a doctor suggested she needed to slow down, "I was outraged," she said.
Eventually, in May 2003, a Loma Linda specialist diagnosed ALS. Nila had been living on her own in Redlands at the time.
By July 2003, she quit driving. A walker became necessary in September of that year. And by February 2004, she needed a wheelchair.
So as not to be a burden to her daughter, Nila decided in May 2005 to move to the Reche Canyon center. It was a wise decision, she said.
In her year-and-a-half at the nursing home, Nila has survived several other ALS patients. As for longevity with this disease - "It's 95 percent attitude," she said.
Her grandchildren keep her going. Nila said she wants to live long enough for the youngest, who's 3, "to remember me," she said.
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