Former NFL running back Chris Johnson has revealed that he's been diagnosed with ALS. The news was revealed via Good Morning America. During the segment, Johnson, who uses his eyes to trigger a speech-generating device, revealed the impact the disease has had on not only his body but also his life.
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"First, I want people to know that I'm still me," Johnson said. "ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn't changed who I am."
As the segment continued, Johnson detailed how he first came to realize that something wasn't right with his body.
"I first noticed weakness in my right hand. At first, it was little things like my grip didn't feel right, and I wasn't as strong as I've always been. His wife, Brittany, thought it was something much simpler...We hoped it was something else, but after thorough testing, they finally came down with a diagnosis of ALS. They told us about a medication that might extend life by a few months. Then they told us to get our affairs in order."
Currently, there's no cure for ALS, despite heavy ongoing research. Unfortunately for Johnson, his illness appears to be progressing at a high rate.
"It's continued to progress much faster than I ever imagined. I want people to understand just how quickly," Johnson continued. "ALS can attack your body. Just over a year ago. I was picking up my seven-year-old daughter. So she made a wish with her birthday cake. Today, I couldn't do that."
Chris Johnson Hopes by Sharing His Struggles He Will Raise Awareness for ALS
Elsewhere in the segment, Johnson noted that he'd chosen to speak on his illness in the hope that it could raise awareness regarding the disease.
"If sharing my story helps even one person get diagnosed sooner, inspires more research, or gives another... family hope, then it's worth it," he said.
Despite the nature of his illness, and how fast its progressing, Johnson admitted that he's refusing to give up hope.
"We're seeing more research, more clinical trials, and more promising ideas than ever before. Seeing how hard these doctors and researchers are working gives me hope. As long as they're fighting for people with ALS, I'm going to keep fighting too."
There's no doubt that this is a heartbreaking update from someone who was an elite athlete and clearly took care of their body. One can only hope a breakthrough in ALS occurs in the near future.
