Not How I thought I'd spend this weekend.

2011 Walk for ALS Ottawa

Last Saturday as I planned my week I thought I was going to spend today in Drummondville Quebec. watching Sam, Elyse and Alex race the U17 elite division, (sorry I missed it guys you all had great races thanks for the updates Patti and Michelle).

Instead I spent today and most of the past week (as I knew I would at some point but your never quite ready when it happens) mourning the passing of a life long friend. Monday June 13th saw the passing of Mike Shahen one of my oldest, closest and dearest friends, Mike passed away after a very long and courageous fight with ALS. 3 years ago I could have told you very little about ALS, I knew it was referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, I knew there was no cure and I was aware that it attacked the body and in simple terms "killed" you piece by piece.

Mike was diagnosed with ALS in July 2009, not quite 2 years ago, when he was first diagnosed he only told family and a few close friends, he wanted those closest to him to accept his fate before the news spread. I doubt I participated in any sport or activity growing up without Mike being a part of it, we grew up living next door to each other, shared a rink built every year by my Dad, I taught him how to play lacrosse and he taught me how to play soccer. He was a year older and always a friend and he sometimes filled the role as big brother when he had to. Mike was perhaps the smartest most giving person I have ever known.

Last year on this very weekend after 1 year of living with the disease Mike's mobility had diminished so much he was forced to use a wheel chair. The 2010 Walk for ALS was Mike's first outing confined to a wheel chair, I didn't get to visit Mike much last summer but I did see him at Thanksgiving, although confined to a wheel chair, he still had one good arm to throw the football around with his 2 sons, myself, my daughter and my 2 nephews. His movement was restricted but Mike was still Mike, funny, engaging and full of hope and promise. I visited Mike with my daughter about a month ago and was devastated to see how much of him ALS had taken, he was unable to talk, used a respirator to breathe and had no movement left in him.

Mike and his family were supposed to be the lead family for the Walk for ALS today after Mikes passing, his wife Tanya and sons Mitchell and Spencer still wanted to honour that commitment.

As I have navigated the past week, I realized just how important time really is, not the time I talk about every day, in seconds per metre. But time, time spent with family and friends, time enjoying what we have, where we will end up. I realized today that every single concern or complaint I have had over the past 6 months wouldn't even have registered as a concern with Tanya or Mike. I spent alot of this week in the company of my family and some of my oldest friends, I was able to mourn and celebrate one of the most influential people in my life.

Micheal Edward Shahen passed away on June 13th 2011, he was father to Mitchell (11) and Spencer (9) and husband of Tanya. A great friend and teacher Mike you will be missed but not forgotten.

ONE LAST WORD ABOUT ALS

The Ottawa ALS society has a summer long fund raiser called 42 Canoe.
http://www.42canoe.ca/Home.html

The Worlds Longest Portage. A canoe is to be transported across Canada during the month of July only by people donating their time and vehicles. The canoe will travel on rooftops from campsite to campsite from St Johns to Victoria. PLEASE visit the website (link above) to see if you can help out or better yet tell the local media ( it"s a fundraiser/awareness campagin for ALS Canada).


Thanks
Greg