Mike's ESPN interview

I was with Mike and his Mother when we watched the ESPN program, Real Sports with Bryant Gumble, where Mike had been interviewed.  During the interview Mike gave his views on the topic they were covering, head injury and football.  A lot of the studies were showing the connection between the number of head injuries, not just in football, and neurodegenerative diseases.  ALS is in that catagory but so is Parkinsons and others.  I remember two specific points Mike made during that interview.  One was that he didn't support the idea that the organization of football should be held financially responsible for the conditions related to football injuries.  This is where Mike and I didn't agree.... I believe that there is a connection and Mike didn't.  During the interview Mike answered as Mike does when asked about his thoughts on if the sport should be held accountable.  Mike didn't answer with the debated answer, he answered with the pragmatic answer.  He said (to the effect of) if the sports organizations were to be held financially accountable and it would be for all neurodegenerative conditions, the sport would soon be bankrupt.  As a side note to this, Mike and I both, when we saw a report where at least locally, they had restricted the number of hits children were allowed to take during practice were happy to see the change in regulation.  Some leagues said none until a certain age.  I am not giving specifics on purpose here because I don't want to research the accuracy since they aren't really my point.   The other point Mike made during that interview was that he would welcome the opportunity to live in a home setting.  I had been in the nursing home almost every day with him for I think 8 months before I saw that program.  It was plenty long enough to see first hand the hell that had become his life there.  So I sat down and wrote him a letter asking him to move in with me.  I did not take this lightly, trust me.  But his level of care was so similar to my girls, I was fortunate enough to know exactly what he would need and how to provide it.  I didn't want to ask him in person because I wanted to give him time to think about it without me standing in front of him.  He didn't address me with it for almost two weeks.  He had some concerns but he was excited at the idea.  I suggested he have friends come over to my place and check it out for him.  I made him a video of me walking around my house.  I gave him a detailed list of the supplies he would need and the vendors that I knew could supply them.  When he decided that he wanted to move in with me, we both just sat together and cried.  It was a huge sign of the trust and love that we had for each other.  As romantic as all that sounds.... reality is that these things take time.  We applied for the services he would need with the State and after multiple interviews and documentation it took almost an entire YEAR after we decided to live together before it could happen.  One year in the life of a person living with ALS where your days are numbered is excruciating.  Our decision didn't sit well with a lot of people in his life.... and mine.  But we knew that this was what we wanted.  It was me and him.  He didn't have to rely on anyone else anymore, we had each other.