by Tesha M. Christensen
STAR Assistant Editor
Life and death are two things the Kip and Shannon Blomquist family of rural Isanti County know well.
In the past six months, father Kip has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease, for which there is no cure. The average life expectancy is between two to five years.
One month to the day after Kip's diagnosis, his daughter, Madison, was born. An in-vitro baby, the family labels her a miracle.
"It's like dealing with life and death all at the same time," said wife Shannon.
The beginning of the end
The problems started in mid-August 2007. Kip hopped out of his truck and couldn't move. His legs locked up, and he couldn't bend his knees. He clung to the side of the truck to keep from falling.
Over the next two weeks, the same thing happened periodically.
He began seeing a chiropractor in September. "We all thought it was a pinched nerve," said Shannon.
While at the chiropractor, his muscles began twitching, and she told him he needed to get into a hospital.
By then, Kip knew something was really wrong.
He checked himself into the emergency room and said he wasn't leaving until he had answers.
Over six days, he underwent a myriad of blood tests, MRIs and other tests, as doctors tried to find out what was causing his problems.
Shannon spent the time on the Internet, researching possible illnesses. She kept coming back to Lou Gehrig's Disease, but the doctors assured them it was not probable as Kip at age 37 was much younger than the average affliction age of 55.
One final EMG revealed the truth on Oct. 1.
It was Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, more commonly referred to as Lou Gerhrig's disease or simply ALS.
The news shook the Blomquists' world.
"It can't be true," Kip recalled thinking. It didn't seem real.
The couple, married just three and one-half years, clung to each other and sobbed.
Breaking the news to their kids
They called their parents to share the news, and then headed home to tell their (then) three children, ranging in age from nine to 17.
"That was the hardest part for me," admitted Kip.
"The kids are my life."
The couple chose to break the news to one child at a time. Son Mitchell, the spitting image of his father, was the first to find out. "Mitchell and I shed tears like there was no tomorrow," recalled Kip. Since that time, the two have remained strong, not breaking down in front of each other.
Then came high school senior Breana. "I didn't know what to do," Breana said. Since, she's broken down off and on. "We have good days, and we have bad days," noted Shannon.
Both Breana and Shannon cling to the belief that God only gives you as much as you can handle.
"It's empowering for me," said Shannon. "For some reason God thinks we can handle this."
Kip struggled over how much to tell his youngest son, age nine. He wanted to wait to tell him much until he turned 12 and could better understand, but Jordan overheard other conversations, observed what was happening in his home, and now fully knows what's going on.
"Jordan's grateful he got to have me for 10 years, because I only got my dad for five years," noted Kip.
For Shannon, well, she's grateful she didn't lose Kip suddenly in a car crash. "We have time to tell each other how we feel," she remarked.
Other family members and friends were shocked to hear the news, particularly Kip's mom, Nancy Graham.
"None of us thought it was that bad," said Shannon.
"I have a wonderful support group starting right here in my family," said Kip, looking around his kitchen table at his wife and kids.
"I really feel like we're all closer," added Shannon.
The family stays open with one another, a practice dating from when Kip's first wife left him and they were divorced. They also confront problems with humor, laughing together about Kip's falls and joking about his other symptoms.
Support helping them through
When the family arrived back home that first night, it was to a house full of people.
And the support hasn't faded, but has only grown since.
Friends Kip hasn't talked to since high school have called. Many offer to do whatever they can. Kip's good friend, Rick Anderson, drops by regularly and helps with whatever is needed. His wife, Dana, is Shannon's rock.
"The support from friends and loved ones and family is just amazing," said Kip. "It's what keeps me going."
"We could call anyone and they'd be here in an instant," agreed Shannon. "It's ridiculous what the guys will come here to help him with."
Each member of the family has their own friends to go to. Breana relies on Ryan Wicht, who recently lost his mother suddenly. The two discuss what's worse, losing someone unexpectedly or slowly because of disease. "It's good to have someone to talk to that's been there," said Breana.
Mitchell doesn't talk about the issue at school and often walks away when it is being discussed at home. But he's had some good talks with his grandfather.
Jordan has Nick Anderson, who considers Kip a second father. "When he's feeling down I've got him up," said Jordan, and vice versa.
Kip is able to talk to other people with ALS through the Patients Like Me web site.
They're all grateful to the group of people who have been meeting weekly to plan a benefit on Saturday, March 1, 4:30 p.m. at the Cambridge American Legion. In addition to the pig roast dinner, there will be a silent and live auction, music and games for the kids. The money will be used to make the house handicapped-accessible and to help pay medical bills. Planners include Rian Schermerhorn, Dana Anderson, Angie Graham, Tara Guimont, Lisa Johnston, Tootie Wickeham (Kip's sister), Wayne and Sue Emmel (Shannon's parents) and Nancy and Jim Graham (Kip's parents). Kerri Branson, whose twin sons suffer from muscular dystrophy, has created a web site for Kip,
Kip checks the online guestbook every day.
"I feel like no one wants to see me go," said Kip.
However, he says he's ready to die. "I've done it all," Kip said. "I've had a good life. I don't have any concerns for me, just for my wife and kids. I'm not afraid of going."
He counts raising his children among his accomplishments. "I know in my heart that I've got a lot of time and energy into these kids, and they're going to turn out good."
Besides, he's threatened each one already. "I'm going to be watching you [from heaven]."
Perhaps it was because he lost his own father at a young age, but Kip has never put things off until tomorrow. When he wanted to do something, he did it.
He's tried to instill that attitude into his kids, along with the belief that you have to work for what you get. "What I got didn't come free," said Kip.
Affects of the disease
Life has changed for Kip.
Whereas her husband never used to come into the house until 10 p.m. at night, now Kip spends a lot of time on the couch watching TV, observed Shannon.
Thanks to an understanding employer, Kip has rearranged his work hours so that he works four 10-hour days and takes off Friday. When he's not feeling well, he's able to work from home. The schedule creates a situation where he still has something to give his family.
He hopes to continue working as long as possible, which is made easier by tools available through the Hennepin County Medical Center ALS Center. They've provided him with voice-activated items to help ease the strain on his hands, which don't bend around a mouse as they used to.
Other aids help him tie his shoes, hold on better to eating utensils, and put on his pants.
Kip has had to begin sitting by and let others do things. During their annual Valentine's Day ice fishing trip, he sat and oversaw his friends set up their fish houses because his legs tire so fast.
Like other ALS patients, Kip has only so much spark, and when that is gone in a day, it won't rejuvenate, noted Shannon.
He falls often. "Everything is slow. I can think as fast as I want, but I can't get my legs to move," said Kip.
Because of the stiffness in his legs, particularly his right one, getting off and on his four-wheeler for his daily ride with Jordan got exceedingly difficult. It was eating away at his soul, Kip admitted, because it frustrated him so.
Despite being strapped for cash, the family decided to buy a Rhino ATV. It's made a world of difference. "It brought back my life," said Kip.
Following the recommendations of doctors, the family took a trip together to Jamaica in January with another family. Kip resisted the idea at first, feeling as though they couldn't afford it. He agreed, however, when he realized what it would mean to his family. They had a great time, and the heat did wonders for him.
He's incorporated more vegetable, natural foods and vitamins in his diet, following the recommendations of a naturopath.
Kip is learning to live with the disease, as is his whole family. It no longer seems like such a strange thing. It's part of their daily life.
However, the fact that death could be close still doesn't seem real. They're trying to come to grips with the fact that there is no cure for this disease, and Kip will progressively get worse as his muscles atrophy.
It's like when folks haven't seen their kids in awhile and comment, "Oh, they've grown so much." That's how it is with Kip's degeneration, noted Shannon. His family doesn't notice as much because they see him everyday.
However, his condition has worsened over the last few months, as evidenced in regular doctor's appointments.
There is no set path all ALS patients follow. Some die in as little as six months, but others live for years. As the disease progresses, however, Kip will lose more and more of his muscle, which could eventually lead to paralysis. His mind will remain sharp through it all, pointed out Shannon, who has researched the disease heavily.
The cause of ALS is not known, and is genetic in some cases. Kip doesn't know anyone in his family or group of friends afflicted by the disease.
"Sixty percent of people with ALS have been in a war," Kip observed.
He is confident that his illness can be linked to his service in the Navy during the Gulf War, and the vaccinations he was given. "My body doesn't have what it needs to fight what they put in," Kip stated.
But he's not blaming anyone for his sickness. "I'm not the type to hold a grudge," said Kip. "I did what I had to do."
The Blomquists don't know how long Kip's body will fight the disease, but those with ALS are living longer and longer. Over half of all patients live more than three years after diagnosis.
The family clings to the phrase embossed on the red bracelet each wears: "Never Give Up Hope."
~ Tesha M. Christensen,
news@cambridgemn.com.
WHAT IS LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE?
• Lou Gerhrig's Disease, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy.
• Although the life expectancy of an ALS patient averages about two to five years from the time of diagnosis, this disease is variable, and many people live with quality for five years and more.
• ALS can strike anyone.
• It can be hereditary, but most with ALS have no family history of the disease.
• The cause of ALS is not completely understood, and there is no cure.
• 15 people a day are diagnosed with ALS.
• 60% of the people with ALS are men, and 93% of patients in are Caucasian.
• Most people who develop ALS are between the ages of 40 and 70.
SYMPTOMS:
• muscle weakness in one or more of the following: hands, arms, legs or the muscles of speech, swallowing or breathing
• twitching (fasciculation) and cramping of muscles, especially those in the hands and feet
• impairment of the use of the arms and legs
• "thick speech" and difficulty in projecting the voice
• in more advanced stages, shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing and swallowing
MORE @: www.alsa.org
ABOUT KIP
• Born Dec. 17, 1970.
• Father died in a train accident when Kip was four
• Graduated from Cambridge High School in 1989
• Served in Navy for four years
• Sent to Middle East for the Gulf War and Operation Clean-up
•Earned degree in machining from Anoka-Hennepin Technical College
• Employed by Pellco Machine as machining supervisor
• Married Shannon Emmel on April 17, 2004
• Father to four: Breana (age 17), Mitchell (age 15), Jordan (age nine) and Madison (three months)
• Certified chef
• Outdoorsman who loves to hunt, camp and fish
MORE @: forkip.com
TIMELINE
Mid-August 2007: Kip falls getting out of his truck. His legs lock up and he can't bend his knees. Problem persists.
September 2007: Kip begins seeing a chiropractor, thinking he has a pinched nerve.
Sept. 15, 2007: Muscle twitches bring Kip to the emergency room, knowing it's a bigger problem.
Sept. 25-30, 2007: Kip undergoes multiple tests at Hennepin County Medical Center.
Oct. 1, 2007: Kip diagnoses with ALS, for which there is no cure.
Nov. 1, 2007: Daughter Madison is born.
January 2008: Family vacations in Jamaica together.
March 1, 2008: Benefit planned at Cambridge American Legion, 4:30 p.m.
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