Brantford man shares journey with ALS through YouTube videos
A major health scare is not something many of us would want to make public, but one 48-year-old Brantford man is sharing his journey online through YouTube videos.
Dave Dodds describes his videos as both both therapeutic and humourous.
Dodds said noticed something wrong back in September.
"It's impacted my upper arm movements so reaching for things is difficult but the rest of my muscles in my arms still work normally," Dodds told CTV News.
At first, his doctors thought he had torn rotator cuffs but then in March, Dodds’ life changed forever. He was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
"There was a series of tests because there is no test that says you've got ALS,” he said. “So they knocked all that off and from there, you're left standing with ALS."
His doctors said he may have a regional variant of ALS known as brachial amyotrophic diplegia – right now it is effecting his arms and shoulders but that could change.
"It'll sit there for it could be ten years, if it decides not to, it can attack me more quickly," he said.
As a way to spread awareness about his illness, Dodds decided to take to social media, posting monthly health updates on YouTube.
"From my perspective I wanted to be able to provide some awareness and let people know my story and how it's going," he said.
His family was shocked by his diagnosis but says his attitude has been nothing but positive.
"We kind of just looked past it and looked where it's gonna go and what we can do about it, obviously nothing but you know we spend every day together that's all I can ask for," said Dodds’ teenage son Will.
Years ago, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge made national headlines, raising millions for research. The ALS Society of Canada said about 3,000 people are living with ALS in the country and while the trend resulted in new developments in treatment, they are still underfunded.
"Even the fundraising that came in, which was unprecedented for us, was a fraction of a fraction of what most treatable diseases have to fund research for example in a given year,” said David Taylor, vice-president of research at ALS Society Of Canada. “You know, this was a kind of moment in time and we'll see if it can resonate again."
June is ALS awareness month and Dodds and his family will be taking part in the ALS walk in Hamilton on June 10 to raise money for the illness.
"It's unbelievable how the financial aspects have been from people coming and supporting us,” Dodds said. “The community support – that to me is the most important thing."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.