Don Altier:  

13 is my lucky number. I recently found a program for our high school graduation. I was the 13th to graduate in the 1978 class. I was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) on Oct. 13th, 1992. The day before, we were excited to find out that my wife was 8 weeks pregnant with twins! Doctors were not optimistic about our situation, thinking that I might be dead or completely paralyzed within a couple years. We did not embrace their negativity. We went on living. Our twin sons (identical) were born exactly 7 months after I was given the assumed death sentence of ALS, on of course, the 13th. I found a new neurologist, and started an experimental drug to attempt to slow ALS progression on July 13th, 1993. I was randomly assigned a patient number which, of course, was 13. For 5 years and 2 failed drug studies, Patient 13 held fairly strong. By the year 1998, I was the only one ALIVE out of the 100 ALS patients enrolled in the drug studies at UCSF. My wife went back to work 2 months after our sons were born, and I've been a stay-at-home dad ever since. I use a power wheelchair to get around (since 1998), but still can drive my van that is equipped with hand controls and wheelchair lift. My life has not been perfect, but it has been blessed. I feel lucky just to be alive... We live in San Jose, CA, where my wife grew up. We met whiile she was work...Expand for more