The Journey
Noticings, wonders, reflections, and things I have learned.
In December I ordered a batch of “I'm In” bands. They were meant for family, and a few close friends I could browbeat into wearing them.
I ran out in two weeks. Bands made their way to Qatar, a basketball court in Louisville, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Boston, Georgia, Manhattan, and all over the Greenwich Country Day School. Our “family” is not small, nor geographically constrained. I ordered a new batch, and they are in! Please let me know if you would like one. (If you happen to be in the Greenwich area, I will have a bowl full on my desk) There is no donation necessary, but we encourage you to take a look at the organizations we have identified as doing great work with the science of this fight and support in whatever way you can. My hope is that these bands will start conversations. I have also created a page on my website with a gallery of pictures from this amazing group of friends and family. As I say on the page’s description, this is to celebrate the silly and the support. They should make us all smile. Please snap a picture and send it along! http://iminawn.weebly.com/gallery.html
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We got a sneak peek of spring in the Northeast today. I took the opportunity to roll out my bike and get in a quick tri-state trek training ride. A really wonderful way to end the day!
Whether it is hopping in the pool or going for a quick bike ride, finding ways to stay active despite physical frustrations have proven to be uniquely joyful adventures. Join Team Niblock! 2/12/17
I'm going to amend a time-honored adage - “ If at first you don't succeed, take stock of what you have learned, and try, try again!” Whether this is labeled a growth mindset or a learning stance, nobody embodies it better than the researchers and doctors I have met striving to understand and find therapies and a cure for ALS. Children’s author and STEM expert Andrea Beaty, recently wrote a blog post talking about how to cultivate and appreciate failure in children. The piece is a way for us to see the value of failure in any learning endeavor, but it is also a lens through which we can help ourselves and children understand the challenges and the resiliency of the scientists fighting this fight against ALS. it is essential for all of us to understand that through trial, and through failure, we are getting closer, not further away, to a cure. I am so grateful to know many of these scientists trying, learning, and trying again. The science is inspiring and gives significant and justified cause for hope. Please explore this site for links to some of the places “doing the science!” This week I spent some time reading. I was directed by a friend to the site ALS Untangled. It is the work of Dr. Richard Bedlack at Duke University. In a journey that is fraught with frustration and puzzles, Dr. Bedlack has decided to investigate all of the "wacky" options. It is fascinating reading, and it further builds the case that ALS is an individual disease that attacks everyone differently, and therefore we should be open to many different approaches to fight it.
One of the recent posts on his site is a study from Columbia University on the impact of diet on ALS progression. It is a fascinating piece of research – looks like smoothies are going to be a staple! |