ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. The disease robs people of the ability to walk, talk and even blink an eye. It traps them inside a body they no longer can control and ultimately prevents them from breathing as it takes their life. People with ALS lose the power to use their legs, hold someone close, and say, “I love you,” before their bodies gradually shut down. . From onset to diagnosis, life expectancy is 2 – 5 years.