18 Years and a Love That Has Endured
August 30, 2021 by Kristin Neva My husband, Todd, and I marked 18 years of marriage on Tuesday. The memory of our seventh anniversary is seared into my mind. He…
Part of Past Life Returns When Todd Teaches Isaac to Grill
August 17, 2021 by Kristin Neva When my husband, Todd, was diagnosed with ALS, I grieved the loss of our dreams and our future together, but I had no idea…
Falling Back on Ritual in Times of Loss
November 25, 2020, by Kristin Neva A week after Todd was diagnosed with ALS, we took our children to the beach. Almost-one-year Isaac pointed to seagulls flying over Lake Michigan.…
Taking Care of Unfinished Business
August 29, 2020, by Kristin Neva “That’s the one project I wish I could have finished,” my husband, Todd, said while looking out a window at Comet’s doghouse. He had…
7 Ways Life with ALS Is Similar to Life During a Pandemic
March 31, 2020, by Kristin Neva When someone asked my husband how he is doing in light of COVID-19, Todd replied, “Our life isn’t that much different. Now everyone else…
Living Life While Taking Precautions
March 8, 2020, by Kristin Neva After three weeks of my husband, Todd, being cloistered in our home with a cold, we ventured out Saturday for Michigan Tech’s last home…
The Art of Choosing a Family-Friendly Movie
November 4, 2019, by Kristin Neva Friday movie night has become our favorite pastime, as it’s something we can still enjoy as a family despite my husband Todd’s paralysis. We…
Just Breathe: Dealing with Chronic Stress
October 28, 2019, by Kristin Neva ALS is now affecting my husband’s breathing. On occasion, Todd’s lungs fill with fluid and he needs me to give him an assisted cough,…
No Guarantees, but We Have Choices
October 21, 2019, by Kristin Neva “What? But there’s a guarantee on your website,” I told the customer service representative for the herbal company. I had requested a refund of…
Learning New Skills I Wish I Didn’t Need
September 9, 2019, by Kristin Neva [This article was written for ALS News Today prior to Todd’s surgery to insert a PEG tube on August 12, 2019. Keep reading after the…