My husband had been sick for many years but too proud to complain until he just couldn't do anything anymore literally. One night he agreed to let me call EMS to take him in because he couldn't walk anymore. When the neurologist saw him he knew right away that my husband had ALS. My husband was in such denial and asked that the Dr. do other tests to make sure, which he did. He came home from the hospital in Feb, 2005, and passed away on July 6th, 2005. He had only been retired for 7 years. My mother died of ALS, and my husband knew what the rest of his life would be like. It is a terrible way to die.