Garrett Smith Story

I’m a devoted, loving, and caring father of 6 kids and 3 grandkids. My loving and caring wife of fifteen years is truly remarkable, strong and my rock. We love to travel, go hiking, boating, and occasionally staying home and watching movies. We’re a very active family between school, family functions, and sports we’re hardly ever home to long. Since being diagnosed with ALS, we love to advocate for our local ALS chapter and teach others about this monster. I’ve always been a happy go lucky person with a positive attitude and those around me enjoy my laughter and my smile.

I’ve had many great civilian jobs in my lifetime and the one I’m most proud of was being a First-Class Petty Officer in the US Navy Reserves. For thirteen years I worked with some of finest sailors that I call my brothers and sisters. My job title was a builder (BU) and was part of an amazing Construction Battalion called the Seabees. I deployed to Iraq 2007 and Afghanistan 2012. I’m very proud to have served in Americas greatest Military before being medically discharged.

Early February 2017, I started to have sinus drainage causing me to cough all the time and it wouldn't go away so after many visits to my primary DR I was finally referred to an ENT towards of the end of March. After seeing an ENT for a couple of months due to my slurred speech and randomly choking they referred me to a neurologist. I remember this day all too well. June 02, 2017, I went to see a neurologist and I went through a series of tests including an EMG, blood, MRI, and a spinal puncture. My neurologist asked me if I have ever heard of ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease) and I said yes, I participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge which I had ice cold water dumped over my head. Truthfully at that time I had no idea what ALS really was other than it was a disease. Doctor said to have my family members present for the result on June 30th and of course I was by myself for the initial appointment so talk about deer in the head light look. There was no emotion, just a blank stare and all I could think about was why me and how did I get such a disease. June 30, 2017, I was officially diagnosed with Bulbar Onset ALS and was told the average life expectancy was six to eighteen months and to get my affairs in order. That entire day and weeks thereafter, the only thing on my mind was how I am going to beat this. A year after diagnoses I tried just about everything to slow the progression down and so far, nothing has helped. Eventually I started thinking instead of beating ALS, how am I going to embrace and live with it so I may keep a good quality of life and still be a great father and husband for my family.

I had gone to my local VA clinic to get a second opinion and that’s which confirmed that I was positive for having ALS and they recommended that I speak with their social worker which is how I found out ALS is 100% service connected and they put me in touch with a Paralyzed Veteran of America rep. Being in the military for so long, I never heard about ALS being a service-connected disease. On my last day at my reserve Center, I was able to share my story with everyone and educate them about ALS being service connected and that they are twice as likely to get this awful disease. I honestly felt relived knowing that I would be taken care of financially which lifted a huge burden off my shoulders.