Woman's Life Changed by INTEGRIS MDA Neuromuscular Center

A very grateful Debra Lusk lives in Oklahoma City. She feels lucky she doesn't have to travel far to receive the help she needs with Lou Gehrig's disease.

Thursday, September 3rd 2009, 3:01 pm

By: News 9


By Doug Warner, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A very grateful Debra Lusk lives in Oklahoma City. She feels lucky she doesn't have to travel far to receive the help she needs.

Lusk enjoys life's simple pleasures like watering flowers outside her and her husband's home near NE 63rd Street and Sooner Road. But their life has been anything but simple over the last few years.

On New Year's Day 2006 no amount of water was able to prevent an out-of-control wildfire from ripping through their home reducing it to little more than rubble.

The very next year Lusk's husband, Howard, needed a heart transplant. His recovery has gone quite well, but months later Debra then found herself at the doctor's office.

"In 2007 I noticed weakness in my arm and hand," Debra said.

And it only continued to get worse until an official diagnosis was made a year later. Debra had Lou Gehrig's disease, also known as A.L.S.

"I couldn't believe it, didn't want to believe it," Debra said.

As expected the tears were flowing, but Debra said for only a short time.

"Try not to worry about what I'm not able to do, but keep the focus on what I'm still able to do," Debra said. "And I have a great support system. You know, some days I actually forget I have the disease."

She said she owes that, in part, to the doctors, nurses and therapists at INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center's MDA Neuromuscular Center which opened its doors about the same time she was diagnosed.

"It's like one big happy family," Debra said. "You don't feel the pressure when you walk in, you know you're there and you'll be helped."

And now Debra and too many others fighting the same fight hope you'll help MDA.

"It gives me hope that one day a cure, or at least find some means, that the progression of the disease, can be slowed down," Debra said.

The MDA telethon starts Sunday, September 6 on NEWS 9 with our own Robin Marsh, Doug Warner and Darren Brown emceeing the event.

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