Testimony to the human spirit Diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis (ALS) more than 31 years ago, Steve Wells,
Artsci/PHE’83, has become Canada’s longest-living survivor of
the disease. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a
rapidly progressing and ultimately fatal neuromuscular disease,
robbing 80 per cent of victims of their lives within two to five
years of diagnosis. While the regular onset of ALS is between
the ages of 40 and 70, it is an undiscriminating disease with a
third of its patients diagnosed before the age of 45. Steve
understands the importance of spreading the word about this
disturbing, and unfortunately, not so uncommon disease, which
claims as many as three Canadians each day. Having lost the
ability to speak, Steve now shares his story mediated through a
computer that he controls with his inner thighs. Currently ALS
Ontario is engaged in a new public awareness campaign,
Paralyzing Poverty, to alleviate poverty amongst its clients.
Currently 40 per cent of those living with A