School Nurse Murdock takes ALS challenge

St. Landry Parish School Nurse Monica Murdock, RN, took the ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) challenge at Eunice Jr. High Tuesday. Prior to having an ice-cold bucket of ice and water dumped upon her head, she spoke to the junior high 7th hour physical education classes about ALS.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.
ALS symptoms may be so slight that they are frequently overlooked. With regard to the appearance of symptoms and the progression of the illness, the course of the disease may include the following: 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, and in more advanced stages, shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing and swallowing.
Facebook has blown up with ALS Ice Challengers and currently millions of dollars are raised by many individuals, and businesses who took the Ice Challenge for research and awareness of ALS. There is no cure for ALS.
Eunice Junior High students are on-board to raise money for ALS as they were challenged by their principal Lakesha Miller and assistant principal Lisa Fuselier to raise $1,000 to go to ALS research.
Miller added, addressing students, “If you have met this goal of $1,000, you will be allowed and have the opportunity to pour ice and water upon myself and Mrs. Fuselier.”