Thomas Gordon Diagnosed with ALS
Some sad news as former Michigan safety Thomas Gordon (2009-2013) was recently diagnosed with ALS.
Through some of those rough years, he was one of my favorite players
Thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as they deal with the unimaginable.
https://twitter.com/joshhenschke/status/1616237246033833984?s=46&t=52b2Is1j00aWMeFmA6ZHBQ
January 19th, 2023 at 9:01 PM ^
We had a family friend who passed from ALS. That is really, really sad. I hope he can find peace and joy in his remaining time.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:02 PM ^
Devastating at such a young age. ALS took my dad at 74 very quickly. Hopefully Thomas's youth and vigor give him a long fight.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:39 PM ^
I actually mean this sincerely, even if it comes off insensitively. But does he want a long fight? Everything I've heard about ALS is legitimately miserable in the sense that unlike most scenarios, you were almost always better off yesterday than you are the next day.
It's just such a brutal stroke of bad luck and I wish there was anything anyone could do to make it better. Getting ALS is high up on my list of fears.
I'm sorry to hear about your father- and I can't imagine how that felt for everyone else.
January 19th, 2023 at 10:00 PM ^
Well, since no one really has any choice in the matter, nor do your words affect the cosmic karma, you can see it any way you want. But, being a physician, I can tell you that there is a disease I decided in med school was the one disease I absolutely didn't want, and it is ALS: so you're right. Quick is better, and it can't be quick enough in the case of ALS.
January 19th, 2023 at 10:21 PM ^
While ALS is still considered incurable, there's been scientific discoveries and some experimental treatments over recent years that have slowed the progression of ALS and seem to offer the hope of an eventual cure.
I've been following Brian Wallach https://twitter.com/bsw5020?t=fskv4To8EF7SqG9ycL3gAw&s=09 on Twitter for a few years in his own personal battle with ALS. When he was diagnosed with ALS nearly 5 years ago, he and his wife Sandra founded an organization ( IAmALS.org ) that has been instrumental in pushing for/helping fund research, including an increase in US government funding. Some of the newly funded research has resulted in the discovery of some genetic mutations that sometimes lead to ALS. They've also successfully removed, wherever possible, roadblocks that were keeping promising life-extending treatments out of reach of affected American ALS victims.
Rather than myself explaining further, take a look for yourselves:
And the latest research:
https://iamals.org/latest-research/
It may, right now, offer only a glimmer of hope for those who are diagnosed with this horrible neurological disease, but like with any other disease and potential cure, it has to start somewhere.
January 20th, 2023 at 7:32 AM ^
Yes this disease is my nightmare, much worse news than a cancer diagnosis
January 19th, 2023 at 9:03 PM ^
That sucks. Prayers to him and his family. I was always a fan of how good of a safety he was for a lightly recruited 2 star recruit. I hope he has a full and enjoyable life.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:04 PM ^
Really sorry to hear that - ALS is one of the scariest and most horrific diseases.
Will certainly keep him in our thoughts.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:16 PM ^
Damn 😞
January 19th, 2023 at 9:17 PM ^
Maybe the single worst disease in existence. Seriously makes me sick to my stomach. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:47 PM ^
I asked a different poster but you might know also. Has there been any progress in the form of treatment?
January 19th, 2023 at 9:54 PM ^
I’m in the Pharma / Biotech industry. Unfortunately, there still are no effective therapies against ALS. Neurological diseases have been quite a conundrum for researches to find effective targets that actually make clinically significant differences in the disease progression.
Alzheimers, Parkinson’s, ALS…all diseases that really don’t have super effective durable therapies. The best we can offer are drugs that slow the progression but nothing that halts it. Great process in MS therapies, but nothing super for the three listed above.
January 20th, 2023 at 8:54 AM ^
Not exactly. Treatments for MS have become incredible compared to 30 years ago. It reminds me of the way research just chipped away at HIV for a generation, to the point where HIV infection is essentially nothing in the western world. MS is heading in that direction and the gains have been amazing. So, it's not so much neurologic diseases, so much as certain ones. ALS, Alz's and Parkinson, however, eek. Not much progress.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:20 PM ^
Terrible news. Hoping he and his family can manage this as well as possible.
Thoughts and prayers for him and his family.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:25 PM ^
Just one of those awful diseases that you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. Gordon has always been someone that has prided himself on his physique and keeping himself in the best possible shape, and ALS has just conveyed that it does not discriminate, and can attack anyone, regardless of their physical health.
Feel awful for him and his family, and I’m hoping for a miracle.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:27 PM ^
This is so sad 😢. ALS is such a horrible disease. I helped with fund raising for the West Michigan chapter from 1989-2004. We held charity events to raise money for research and patients. A special young man during that time would ride his custom bike to help raise money. He was such an inspiration.
Here's hoping for the best for Thomas and his family 🙏.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:43 PM ^
Has there been any progress at all in the area of treatment?
January 19th, 2023 at 10:09 PM ^
Not substantially. ALS, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s just are such tricky diseases since they are neurological. One day I pray. Sadly that day isn’t today, and unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be a day that is coming soon :(
January 19th, 2023 at 10:13 PM ^
The ice bucket challenge fundraising led to the development of an experimental drug to slow the effects.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:29 PM ^
This is very much NOT boring for a safety, and in the worst way.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:50 PM ^
This is horrible. Just awful. My heart breaks for Thomas and his family.
I really hope that the Michigan community can help to organize some form of support for Thomas as he embarks on this battle.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:55 PM ^
Awful disease. So sad.
My father in law passed from ALS a year ago. Was a sub 3 hour marathon runner 5 years prior in his mid 60s. Horrible to watch him deteriorate so quickly.
January 19th, 2023 at 10:07 PM ^
T. Gordon was a true Detroit Dog through and through. One of the toughest kids to come through Cass Tech. He was a great player and a great young man. Just all of the prayers to him and his family for comfort along the way.
ALS is just so damn devastating, because there just isn’t the treatment yet because neurological diseases are so damn tricky. The hope for someone to “beat it” just isn’t there currently. We can hope though for peace and comfort through it.
Damn though. Seeing someone so young have something so debilitating just sucks.
January 19th, 2023 at 10:16 PM ^
The older I get, the more people I've known or known of and the more suffering and terrible news I hear. It's become harder and harder to bear knowing my own demise and the demise of everyone I love and know will occur at some point. I don't really understand how anyone can deal with this reality and not feel extremely depressed or anxious. Cherished moments are so fleeting and in the end there is always loss. Distant memories, even happy ones, seem like they would be cold comfort in those dark final moments when we're facing the final decline alone. Shit like this hits me hard even though I don't know the guy. I probably need help, but I know it's all just mind tricks and tactics to reframe or fabricate meaning from the cold hard objective reality of human nature and our mortality. And if help doesn't help, then you're really fucked. Not getting help leaves open the possibility that help could work. If I get help, but it doesn't help then all hope is lost. Anyway . . . Enough of my rambling. Good luck Thomas. I loved watching you play. Hang in there my friend.
January 19th, 2023 at 10:40 PM ^
Mean Joe - I wish I had some magic words of wisdom. I will just say that help does help. It doesn’t solve everything or change reality. Help is different for everyone in my limited experience but it can make things even a little better. There are amazing and caring professionals that know how to help, Admittedly,, there are also some bad professionals like with anything but don’t let a bad one stop you from looking. There are many different approaches to help.
For me, the most important thing is seeing the beauty of the present moment. Not dwelling on bad shit in the past or bad shit that will happen in the future. This very moment is quite extraordinary when you take a moment to consider it. Peace.
January 19th, 2023 at 10:17 PM ^
Just awful news.
On a related topic, I wish Michigan would legally allow for medical aid in dying. I think it’s one of those things where people in the future will look back and consider our standards barbaric.
January 19th, 2023 at 10:30 PM ^
Devastating at that age. Life man. :(
January 19th, 2023 at 11:10 PM ^
That's awful news to hear.
Hopefully there's been some medical advances in the treatment for ALS... I know that there's an assistant GM for the NHL Flames that has been living with ALS for much longer than the initial diagnosis (and still working as assistant GM 4 years since the diagnosis)...hopefully Gordon will do likewise.
January 20th, 2023 at 1:45 PM ^
Chris Snow is the name of the Calgary assistant GM. He was put on a ventilator in December but is back off. He definitely outlived his initial diagnosis.
Tim Shaw --- the legendary Livonia Clarenceville Trojan who also played for PSU and 3 NFL teams, most notably the Tennessee Titans --- was diagnosed with ALS in 2014 and he's still fighting the good fight, he's still fairly active in the Nashville community. Hopefully Gordon can fight that good fight for many years too.
January 20th, 2023 at 1:18 AM ^
Wasn’t he known as “Prison Abs” during his time here?
Wow man, brutal. Prayers for him and his.
January 20th, 2023 at 7:08 AM ^
This puts all of our ailments and complaints of the day in perspective. I wish Thomas the best with his treatments.
January 20th, 2023 at 9:32 AM ^
Damn, thoughts and prayers with Thomas as he navigates the road ahead of him. Hope one day we can find a way to deal with this devastating disease.
January 20th, 2023 at 11:16 AM ^
Man that's sad news. He was one of the bright spots in those dark days. I always respected his work ethic and game. He was a bad MOFO on the field. I'm sure he'll fight this with the same determination.
January 20th, 2023 at 3:44 PM ^
My Mom passed away from ALS. I'll be praying for him and his family.