Our family on our last vacation together before ALS changed our lives.

Akhil in August 2012

Like the water rushing over the boulders in the photo above, we think that life will go on "as is" forever.  What we miss is the constant erosion that subtly occurs underneath the rushing water of our daily activities.  Over time, the rocks are eroded and the flow is forever changed.

On July 26, 2011 our lives were forever changed when Akhil received the diagnosis of ALS.  Having been dealing with MS since 2000, we were shocked by this additional diagnosis of ALS!

In the picture to the left, we were on our "last family vacation" thinking this would be our last because our oldest daughter, Ashley would be leaving for college in the fall.  Things eroded, changing life as we knew it.  Ashley didn't leave for college but it would be our last family vacation nonetheless.  Things are never quite what they seem...

I hope you will share this journey with us by following our blog.

                                                                                       ~ Laura and Akhil 

     "You do not know strength until strength is all 
                                                             you have."


In The Beginning...
She said:
Our journey together began over 20 years ago when Akhil was an engineer at General Motors in Wentzville, Missouri and I was a summer engineering intern.  He tells me it was love at first sight.  I had a serious boyfriend at the time and it seemed like we were headed for marriage.  This was my first lesson in "things aren't always what they seem" - sorry, Bill, if you are reading this.

Akhil persistently asked me out until I finally told him that he could go with my boyfriend and me to a comedy club.  This led to a case of "when you give a guy an inch, he'll take a mile"!  Akhil used every opportunity to romance me away from Bill - chocolate-covered strawberries, flowers, notes at my desk... Unfortunately, Bill was not a romantic so Akhil's persistence eventually paid off.  Three weeks after our first date, we were engaged.  When I told my family, they were shocked thinking I would be announcing my engagement to Bill.  When Akhil told his conservative Indian family that he was marrying a white girl, saying that they were dismayed is an understatement.  Fortunately, we have all come to terms with our differences.

He said:
It was true our journey together started over 20 years ago, but the point Laura failed to mention was I  persistent because I wanted to save her!  No, not from Bill, but from a mental breakdown.  How could someone  turn me down?  Had to be a mental issue.  It was my  duty to save this girl!  And so I did.  It just cost me chocolates, limo rides, concert tickets, flowers and lots of dinners.  It was worth it, mission accomplished.  Girl rescued.  Family in turmoil.  Everyone in disbelief.  Common phrase heard around the water cooler, "This won't last!"

Well here we are, still crazy in love with each other, but it wasn't always like this.  Things just aren't what they seem...