Slapping ALS in the face one donation at a time

It was only a matter of time before I got nominated for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. I love the idea. As I watched it happen more and more, I started thining about what it would be like to one day wake up and be given the diagnosis of having Amyotroohic Lateral Sclerosis, sometimes known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. My brother-in-law is famous in our family for once actually uttering, "Whoa, Lou Gehrig got Lou Gehrig's Disease? I bet he didn't see that one coming."

Here is a little info on ALS from alsa.org:

Just what is ALS?

ALS was first found in 1869 by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot, but it wasn’t until 1939 that Lou Gehrig brought national and international attention to the disease. Ending the career of one of the most beloved baseball players of all time, the disease is still most closely associated with his name. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.

Instead of showering myself with ice-cold water in the name of charity, I decided to take it a step further and give my unwitting friend a hurricane shot. What is a hurricane shot? Oh, click away and see for yourself:

I did this because ALS is something you don't see coming and is a true diagnostic slap in the face. If you are offended by this, you should be more offended that it took a silly challenge to bring to light a devastating condition that ends the lives of amazing people every day.

So learn more about ALS. Then donate. I did.

I nominate Ilana from Mommy Shorts, Amy from Pregnant Chicken and Jill from Scary Mommy.

If you share this post, I will buy you a pony. I suck at Twitter. I am OK at Facebook. Pinterest is my bitch. I am also on Bloglovin' and Instagram.

29 Things Only a Pregnant Woman Would Understand

Morning sickness, insomnia, an ever-growing belly and the long, agonizing wait of labor…it's all worth it! Enjoy these 29 things only someone who's endured the nine-month journey of pregnancy would understand.

1. What it feels like to be completely terrified and excited at the same time.

2. Morning sickness that lasts. All. Damn. Day.

3. That pantiliners aren’t just for periods.

4. That sometimes you get diaper rash even when you don’t wear diapers.

5. Mucus plugs. ‘Nuff said.

6. What Dolly Parton must feel like.

7. Cankles that engulf your entire leg.

8. How to waddle like a penguin.

9. The awesomeness that is the ability to grow a freakin’ human being.

10. Willing the worst pain of your life to come. SOON.

11. How you can be hot when there is ice dripping from the air conditioner.

12. What it is like to have to pee every 15 minutes. All. Night. Long.

13. Crying because the fast food worker got your order wrong.

14. The urge to punch complete strangers in the neck when they comment on how big you are.

15. The need to organize. ALL THE THINGS.

16. The first time you feel the life growing inside of you move.

17. How to trim the hedges when you can no longer see them…

18. How Jabba the Hutt really feels.

19. The importance of fiber.

20. When a baby does a flip off your cervix and lands on your bladder.

21. That you plan every trip out of the house around access to clean restrooms.

22. What it feels like to be punched in the stomach from the inside.

23. Getting excited when you get diarrhea because it means the baby might be coming soon.

24. What it’s like to pee a little when you cough. Or sneeze. Or breathe.

25. The reason ASPCA commercials make you cry.

26. What that dude in the movie Alien felt like.

27. Sleeping in a fortress of pillows.

28. Why you put dirty dishes in the cupboard and mayonnaise in the dishwasher.

29. Loving someone deeply before you even meet them.

This post was written by me and originally appeared on Healthline.

If you share this post, I will buy you a pony. I suck at Twitter. I am OK at Facebook. Pinterest is my bitch. I am also on Bloglovin' and Instagram.