Writer's creativity expands as ALS limits his movement

By Nancy Arcayna

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 28, 2012

~~<p>The first two years after being diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2006, Rick Raker was determined to continue his work as an electronic medical record trainer and programmer with Kaiser Permanente.</p>
<p>"My supervisors and managers were supportive. I was allowed to work from home," he said. He also worked as an educator teaching English as a second language. But ALS is a condition that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement, and willpower could not stop the physical onslaught. "I continued to drive as much as possible, but within a year I could no longer stand or walk without assistance," he said.</p>
~~

The first two years after being diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2006, Rick Raker was determined to continue his work as an electronic medical record trainer and programmer with Kaiser Permanente.

"My supervisors and managers were supportive. I was allowed to work from home," he said. He also worked as an educator teaching English as a second language. But ALS is a condition that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement, and willpower could not stop the physical onslaught. "I continued to drive as much as possible, but within a year I could no longer stand or walk without assistance," he said. Login for more...