By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



Fritz and Kim Courington have found the silver lining in a dark cloud.

The Courington family, of Dora, was turned upside-down last year when Fritz was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

There is no cure or treatment for the neuromuscular disease. Doctors have said that Courington will likely live two to five more years.

However, the Couringtons are finding the good in their situation.

Besides deepening their faith in God, it has helped Fritz know his daughters better.

Courington, who is 37, had formerly worked as a tool and dye maker at Ogihara America Corporation in Birmingham.

“He did a lot of fine-tuned things with his hands,” said Kim Courington. “He just noticed (his left hand) kept getting weaker and weaker.”

Courington did not see a doctor about the condition for two years, thinking it was probably a pinched nerve.

He was finally diagnosed with ALS on Nov. 16, 2006 — on his father’s birthday.

Now Fritz stays home with his daughters Sloan and Sawyer, ages 3 and 4.

Although he says it is a blessing to spend so much time with his daughters, it has not been easy.

“It’s hard to go from Mr. Worker to Mr. Mom,” he said.

Before, he would spend three or four hours a night with the girls before putting them to bed.

“Now I’m with them from daylight to dark,” he said. “I’ve seen a different side of my daughters that I didn’t see before. I see more of their personalities. I can see more of their mother in them, and more of their grandparents.”

Meanwhile, Kim has started her first semester of nursing school.

“Starting back to school was hard,” she said. She chose nursing because she wants to help ALS families after she becomes a nurse.

“We were told (ALS) would emotionally and financially exhaust you,” said Kim. “Caregivers, especially, never get to leave the house.”

The Couringtons are already giving back.

This summer, Fritz participated in a Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Telethon. The MDA deals with more than 40 neuromuscular diseases, including ALS.

And on Oct. 27, the “Fritz Blitz” team won three awards at the MDA’s Moving for Muscles 5K benefit run at Oak Mountain State Park.

The team was awarded for Largest Team (75 members); Most Spirit; and Most Money Raised (almost $4,000).

Courington has even been nominated for the 2008 Robert Ross MDA Personal Achievement Award.

ALS has weakened Fritz’s left arm, his legs and his right arm slightly. He said it is likely that he will eventually have to use a wheelchair.

“There’s no stopping it. No slowing it down,” he said. “The results are always the same — it’s a terminal illness.”

“At first it was horrible,” said Kim of hearing the diagnosis. “I had no idea what I was going to do. I was losing my husband and the life that we knew.”

“We threw ourselves back together after those first few days,” she said. “We wanted to show our girls that whatever God has for you, you might not agree with it, but it’s a perfect plan.”