All They Want For Christmas
Posted by: Lynne Dixon, Reporter
Created: 12/12/2007 9:36:54 PM
Updated: 12/13/2007 5:35:10 PM
A Cheektowaga family has just one wish for Christmas. But, they need your
help. Their father has ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, and they're hoping a
winning contest entry will help give him some independence.
John Bork says he first started noticing the symptoms months earlier, but it
wasn't until this past June that he was officially diagnosed. When he was
told he had ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, John said he felt like "a prisoner
of his own demise." "This was a real shutdown," he said, "it's tough."
What made it even more difficult is the fact that John was a carpenter, and
working with his hands was his livelihood. He had started so many projects
in his own home, but said he's dumbfounded on how to get it done now. "My
wife and kids, they're all saints because they put up with it not being
done. And now I feel like a real heel because I can't do it."
John said ALS takes a lot away from you. "I mean, I was a vibrant person,
always on the go. It takes everything away from you. You can't move." He
added that "everything's in my head. I feel like I'm bouncing around in my
skin and I can't move."
Fortunately for John, he's surrounded by a lot of love. His wife, Lynne,
daughters Amy, Laurie, Jessica, Ashley and son Mitchell, and future
son-in-law Chris wanted to help. They heard about a Home Depot contest. It
calls on participants to make a company-approved video for YouTube that
talks about why you need a 25-thousand dollar gift card, and what you would
do with it. The judging criteria is based on the story, the originality and
creativity of the video and the number of hits on the video.
Click here to watch the Bork's You Tube video.
John's family made a video, describing what they would do with the gift
card. The only full bath in John's home is upstairs. He can no longer use
the stairs. Some of the doorways aren't wide enough for his wheelchair, and
most of his days now are spent on a bed in the livingroom. John's kids, (the
youngest is seven), told how it would help dad's independence if they were
able to make the home renovations to help make his life a little easier.
"It hurts to know that he can't get up to his bedroom, and is stuck in his
bed," said Laurie, the second oldest, acknowledging that the big picture
that goes along with ALS can be overwhelming.
"The outpouring is just incredible and I can't thank people enough," said
Amy, the oldest in the family. They hope to win the Home Depot contest and
give John a great Christmas present, his independence.
~Best viewed with a positive attitude~