Why Team23+ ?

from Bill-

The night before our first Duke ALS clinic visit, in late November, Marilyn decided to read up on Dr. Bedlack and his team. (It's always good to know who you're going to be hanging with.)  She found an article from the N&O that mentioned the fact that Dr. Bedlack had looked into hundreds and hundreds of "claims" of a cure or reversal of ALS symptoms.  It seems he and a team of researchers from around the world have carefully investigated these claims and actually found 22 cases of a reversal of ALS.  While the scientific reasons are not known (yet),  it evidently had an impact on Marilyn... Despite the fact that she had recently received the worst diagnosis she could possibly imagine, that she was afflicted with the fatal disease that "other" people have.... she showed her true self... She got to work, in a crafty sort of way.

After 10 minutes at the computer and a few minutes with an iron, she had created her "wardrobe" for the next day's appointment. It really wasn't fancy- but it said so much
It was simply a T-shirt with an iron-on logo she had made. 
No, it did not say,  "ALS Sucks", or  "I'd Rather Have Something Else"....(though I like those ideas),
it actually was just a simple white t-shirt...
and ironed on the front...
was the number 23.

I wish everyone could have witnessed that moment.... among all the other feelings and emotions raging around us, with fact that this disease is devastating and fatal... SHE focused on the fact that there needs to be hope...
In Marilyn's mind, if there are 22 then someday THERE WILL BE a number 23.  

And then... there will be more.
 That's where the + comes in.

Here's to a simple yet powerful message.   23+



M and Dr. B