Kyle’s beating it

Times Reporter

 

It was in 2010 when Ruppe’s pinky fingers started separating from the rest of his fingers, and by June of 2011 he knew something was wrong. 

He was having a hard time writing and typing, but the doctor told him he was fine. He began experiencing muscle twitching and weakness and his hand was beginning to atrophy. 

After months of being brushed off by his doctor, he was given a nerve conductivity test, which led to more testing. 

“I was officially diagnosed on January 3 (2012) but it was around the end of October when I found out what they thought I was dealing with,” said Ruppe. 

Ruppe was told he had a neuro-degenerative disease, and in January of this year he was told it’s one of the worst ones. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The disease commonly affects people between the ages of 40 and 60. Ruppe is 29. 

ALS is a progressive and fatal disease. Eventually the body succumbs to paralysis and the respiratory system becomes compromised, which leads to most affected patients dying of repertory failure and pneumonia after a few years. 

“I’m fine with the diagnosis I guess, it’s just the prognosis that I’m not happy with,” said Ruppe. 

Ruppe has always enjoyed life to the fullest, trying to always experience new things, while getting the adrenaline kick that he craves. 

“I get so much out of sports, I get everything out of hockey, but sports in general. I love adrenaline, it just sort of kept me moving and wanting to (keep) experiencing something,” said Ruppe.

“It’s taken almost everything from me, and that’s one of the things that I have had problems with over sort of the last month and a half, I get upset about some of those things.

“I’m a people person so I can focus more just on relationships and stuff like that maybe, different aspects of my life to focus on now. Things have just changed a little bit and I just have to change my direction a little bit, that’s about it.”

Ruppe said he still has big dreams and aspirations, but has to take things in stride. It’s still early and he is not sure how the ALS is going to progress and how well what he is doing to mitigate, or stop the progression, is going to work. 

“It’s a little scary at times because the majority of what’s happened to me has happened in such a short period of time, it’s only been eight months since this all started happening, and that’s when your mind starts wondering what is happening, is it going to keep going fast, is it slowing down,” said Ruppe.

“I don’t really know because I don’t have much to really gauge it on either. It’s tough and a little bit draining on the body and the mind, but I’m just trying to shift the way I think about things. Shifting the way I look at everything helps and then just go from there.

“I’m having a hard time doing pretty much everything now and I think that’s why I am having such a bad month. It gets a little discouraging sometimes when you’re having a hard time doing everything for yourself, and you need more help for certain things.”     

Since finding out that he has ALS, Ruppe has been looking for any information he can on the disease. He has been following one man’s website who has survived 21 years with ALS. The man, Eric, changed his life to beat the odds, and even explains how it will help with every neuro-degenerative disease. 

On his own website, Ruppe explains how Eric mentions detoxing to removes as many harmful toxins, metals and chemicals from his body and he now lives a lifestyle that keeps all of those things out of his body.

Ruppe has changed his lifestyle to a purely organic one, making sure not to put any bad things into himself and detoxing to get anything bad out.

After learning of Ruppe’s diagnosis, support has been pouring in to help him and his family through this tough time. Family and friends have taken on the task of fundraising to help send him to the Mayo Clinic. 

“My doctors here have hooked me with the best neurologist over there, that’s who they want me to see, and then he is just going to offer anything that he can,” said Ruppe.

“The Mayo is sort of like a second opinion but not quite. If there is anything that they have other than what my doctors have been dealing with here, they will bring that up right away. Again for me, it’s just another tool in the belt, another thing to grab onto along the way because you never know.”

Ruppe and his family are grateful for all of the support which continues to come in. Thanks to the donations Ruppe has had a chance to feel normal, and take part in a number of things, such as attending a number of NHL games one of his favourite things. This week a goal of Ruppe’s is coming true, he is attending the PGA Masters in Augusta, Georgia, which was also made possible through the generosity of others.    

In May a fundraiser is being held to help support Ruppe, and help cover some of the costs incurred at the Mayo Clinic. Any businesses or individuals interested in donating items to Kyle’s fundraiser in May can contact Kim Ruppe kim_ruppe@hotmail.com or Devin Olson olsonfencing@hotmail.com prior to April 30th. 

Kyle Ruppe’s progress can be followed at www.KyleIsBeatingIt.com or on Facebook page at Support for Kyle Ruppe.