LinasK
Verified insider- Mark Dribin case
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By Bruce Newman
bnewman@mercurynews.com
Posted: 04/12/2012 03:07:47 PM PDT
Updated: 04/12/2012 09:30:08 PM PDTThe size of Gloria Hale and Juri Kameda's worlds began to shrivel the day each woman got her diagnosis of ALS. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease -- withered their bodies, but left their hearts and minds intact.
Hale, 53, saw the circumference of the earth contracting to the four walls of her San Jose home. Then she had an idea how to redirect the progression of her disease, how to slow the certain death that seemed to be rushing toward her. Hale decided it was a perfect time to go sky diving with her friend Juri.
How did this sound, she asked her friend: They would hurl the bodies that have betrayed them -- have left them, in a sense -- out of an airplane from nearly two miles high, free fall at 115 mph for more than a minute, then parachute to a graceful landing near their wheelchairs. They would be the Thelma and Louise of progressive neurodegenerative disease. If possible, without the splat at the end.
On Saturday morning, Kameda and Hale will prove that, even when you're falling 169 feet per second, it's the human spirit that soars. With eight other jumpers -- and in tandem with instructors from Skydance Skydiving in Davis -- they will bring their bodies along for the ride. The two hope to raise money for ALS research, raise awareness of the disease and regain mastery over their fates. more at link: http://www.contracostatimes.com/bay...ding-fall-alss-thelma-and-louise-go-skydiving
bnewman@mercurynews.com
Posted: 04/12/2012 03:07:47 PM PDT
Updated: 04/12/2012 09:30:08 PM PDTThe size of Gloria Hale and Juri Kameda's worlds began to shrivel the day each woman got her diagnosis of ALS. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease -- withered their bodies, but left their hearts and minds intact.
Hale, 53, saw the circumference of the earth contracting to the four walls of her San Jose home. Then she had an idea how to redirect the progression of her disease, how to slow the certain death that seemed to be rushing toward her. Hale decided it was a perfect time to go sky diving with her friend Juri.
How did this sound, she asked her friend: They would hurl the bodies that have betrayed them -- have left them, in a sense -- out of an airplane from nearly two miles high, free fall at 115 mph for more than a minute, then parachute to a graceful landing near their wheelchairs. They would be the Thelma and Louise of progressive neurodegenerative disease. If possible, without the splat at the end.
On Saturday morning, Kameda and Hale will prove that, even when you're falling 169 feet per second, it's the human spirit that soars. With eight other jumpers -- and in tandem with instructors from Skydance Skydiving in Davis -- they will bring their bodies along for the ride. The two hope to raise money for ALS research, raise awareness of the disease and regain mastery over their fates. more at link: http://www.contracostatimes.com/bay...ding-fall-alss-thelma-and-louise-go-skydiving
