About Lyle Merner

My name is Lyle Merner, and I am 38 years old. I live in British Columbia, Canada with my beautiful wife, Gabriela and our four children. In October 2005, I was diagnosed with ALS, and since then the disease has been progressing through my limbs. My mobility and physical activity has been limited. I now rely on equipment and people to get around. With little hope for treatment in North America, I have decided to take my journey with ALS to Beijing. There, I will be visiting with a doctor who will perform an operation that has helped some patients stop the progression of ALS, and even return some mobility. I leave for China October 19th, 2006 for one month. Through this blog, I will share with you my feelings, experiences, and progress.

An Update from Lyle’s Family, May 2007
Lyle was diagnosed with ALS eighteen months ago. Within six months he needed a walker to get around; two months later he was confined to a wheel chair. And just a few month’s ago he became bed ridden. Like many other ALS patients, Lyle lost the use of his legs within the first two years of onset….just like the stats say. Lyle’s condition has progressed very aggressively right from the beginning – leaving no time to adapt to the on-going changes in his mobility and his daily life. This is the worst type of ALS – one that never slows down, or shows any mercy. The worst part of it all – there is nothing we can do to stop it.

This is a very sad personal story of a young man in his prime, who’s life is being taken away; and for our family it means losing a wonderful husband and father, brother and son. It is truly the most difficult thing we have ever experienced.

But seeing Lyle’s amazing spirit and strength everyday is what has gotten us through this very difficult time. He is a very compassionate, caring individual with many friends and family members who support him. Lyle has always been the kind of person to help anyone in need ~ and not surprisingly so many people have stepped up to help us. Thank you all so very much – from our hearts.

During the past eighteen months, Lyle, our family and friends have all HOPED for so much.

We HOPED for Lyle’s ALS to be slow progressing maybe even stop on its own.

We HOPED and tried to find anything anywhere which could stop the progression of ALS – even put the word out to people on every continent.

We HOPED a treatment Lyle received in China would stop it or slow it down.

But we didn’t succeed, and like many other families inflicted with ALS who have been down similar paths – we felt “beaten” by the disease. We try and take some comfort in knowing we tried – and now our HOPE lies in that a cure will be found soon.

This Walk for ALS, like the many around the country, represents for us a real chance at finding a cure. We know all too well that it is research that will allow the medical community to succeed in this tremendous challenge. We also know how very difficult it is for all ALS patients and their families – and how having resources such as the ALS Society is critical to their survival until that cure is found. We can’t say enough of what they have done for Lyle and our family, except that they have our support always.

A father and son should have a future together – and that’s why our family is “Walking for ALS”. We love you Lyle!

With all of our love,

Gaby (your wife), Omar, Danny, Monica and Ethan (your children)

And All of your family and friends around the world!