Words Have Power

Wheelchairs aren’t a trap. They give freedom; they don’t take it away. So don’t say that Stephen Hawking was “freed from his chair”. The chair has always freed him. RIP Stephen Hawking, 1942-2018.

[Image has two panels, both drawn over starfields. The first has an empty wheelchair with a silhouette walking away; this panel is crossed out and labelled “Don’t say ‘freed from his chair’”. The second panel has Hawking in the chair flying around going ‘whee!’. This panel is labelled “The chair has always freed him.]

I think in light of Stephen Hawking passing, I would like to remind everyone that ALS is a horrible tragic disease. Watching my best friend suffer from it has no joke been the single worst miserable thing. Ever. ALS had it’s 15 minutes of fame after the ice bucket challenge but I would really really encourage people to still raise awareness towards ALS and donate if it’s within their means. Stephen Hawking surviving so long and being able to continue to even just interact with others is in thanks to equipment and resources many ALS patients just don’t have. If you really loved Stephen Hawking please consider donating to the ALS Association or participating in an ALS walk/fundraising event! 

here are some donation pages to start: the ALS association, ALS worldwide, ALS research forum

Remember the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? It’s actually helping

Scientists informed the Washington Post that some of the $220 million raised globally from the challenge has already gone to good use. “The money came at a critical time” per one researcher and helped fund a Johns Hopkins study that may be just what ALS patients need.