als is slowly robbing ex-linebacker tim shaw of his muscles. but he won't let that stop him from living. - whiteboard

NASHVILLE —
The information on the bathroom whiteboard is simple.
Walk, talk and thrive.
Tim Shaw, 32, has written down his goals as long as he remembers them.
He revealed in his new book, Blitz your life, that after he was selected by the Carolina Panthers in 2007, his goal was to find God and form a team, lead the special team to tackle the ball and make all-Rookie team.
He formed a team and entered a 7-
Before being cut in 2013, during his year in the NFL, his body suddenly did not allow him to run without tripping.
Scouts reported that he was a player with a classic blue color.
At the peak of his career, as he wrote in the book, he was a "238-
Adrenaline-powered pound missile
"Overall, he played 80 games and played 96 tackles, and his performance in the league far exceeded the career average.
Christopher Hanewinckel/USA Today Sports picture "I always thought he was the glue for our team," said Matt hasbeck, whose former teammates wrote for him
"In Tennessee, I always thought he was the kind of person who was about to be a team or who didn't . . . . . . But he is such an important part of our team and without him the team will not be the team.
My first year there, he was the captain of our special team.
He is an example.
"Now, three years after being diagnosed with ALS, Xiao's goal is simple --
But what makes more sense, he said.
Xiao whiteboard's bathroom sits next to his bedroom and soon after his diagnosis, he and his parents move into the first floor of the house.
To his mother's horror, his bed was not sorted out and his mother did not realize that there would be visitors.
"The whiteboard is where I used to write goals, so the whiteboard is where I am now," Shaw said . ".
"It's really hard for me to walk.
I have a hard time talking, so these two things I want to be at the top of my mind every day.
It's a good day if I'm walking.
I fell a lot.
I tell people that if I fall, I'm still going with a very simple goal, a very simple mindset.
So this is my life now.
John, Tim's father, helped him get dressed. (
USA Today Sports picture)
"When people say, 'What are you pursuing now, 'I sometimes joke with them.
I told them: "Today, I live to not fall.
It's a joke, but it's not true.
Shaw was diagnosed with ALS in 2014, also known as Lou Gehrig.
ALS systematically kills motor neurons from the brain to the spinal cord to the muscles of the whole body.
The more neurons die, the lower the patient's ability to control the body's muscles.
His diagnosis was made in the year when the ice bucket challenge became popular, and that's how he announced to the world-dumping a bucket of cold water on his head and vowing to fight.
Many Titan players joined his team and promised to stand on his side.
At that time, Xiao seemed hopeful about what he could do to influence the fight against the disease.
By the end of the ice bucket challenge, the ALS Association had raised more than $100 million and, according to Calaneet Balas, executive vice president of strategy of the association, had made a promising breakthrough, one day can help people like Shaw.
"We have invested $77 million in research, and that's where we're going to see a huge impact," she said . ".
"We have identified the four gene mutations shown in ALS, so this gives many targets that we have never had before.
Christopher Hanewinckel of USA Today Sports pictures, the challenge has also contributed a lot to people's awareness of the disease.
But there is still no cure, and even the most significant breakthrough is unlikely to change the way ALS are developed in the short term.
Shaw did not lose hope, but he now wakes up every day wondering what challenges he will face from his slowly deteriorating body.
Shaw has a lot of resources compared to many patients, but it doesn't make much sense to slow down the progress of the disease.
His speech became more and more vague, and it seemed very tiring to speak.
If he didn't help, he couldn't catch the golf club.
His walking was also affected.
There was an elevator from his garage to the first floor, and there was a wheelchair where he refused to enter when his legs stopped working.
Some days his mom had to brush his teeth for him, and he used a lid and a straw to drink water from a Penn State Cup to make sure he wouldn't suffocate.
"One of the most difficult things for me is to hear him start to lose the function of normal sound," Hasselbeck said . ".
"Actually, it hit me a lot.
Because I knew he was a tough guy.
We used to do this cross.
Typing exercises . . . . . . It is basically 2,000 m line with partners.
Like the two of you.
I always want Tim to be my partner because he's so good at it, so strong, and just when it's your turn to line 1000, he's basically like a helmsman, shout at you, you see. Let’s go.
He is too strong.
It hurts to hear him start to lose his normal voice.
But that doesn't mean Xiao gave up.
Even a lot slower.
* Christopher Hanewinckel, USA Today Sports picture website, was ecstatic at 9: 30 a. m. on Wednesday.
He had a 20-minute class in Nashville and had a breakthrough-
Golf facilities in the GolfTEC area, where he has been swinging with a coach.
Coach Andrew brali has been watching the video playback of every swing Shaw.
After a few times, Braley suggested that he try to raise his arm a little while on the back swing.
It's working.
Xiao has to think carefully about how he wants his body to move, and the swing takes more effort, but he finally raises his arm and uses his 7-iron perfectly.
He watched the ball hit the screen in front of him, and then when an electric version of the ball slid over the green on the TV, there were 75 hard balls in total
Yards yards-broke a new record of his recent best score of 10 Yards.
"Andrew, I don't know if you know this about me," Shaw said as a photographer in shooting this lesson, "but I'm in my best shape when the camera is on.
Christopher Hanewinckel, the sports picture host of USA Today, smiled.
"You're a little energetic today," he said . ".
Xiao started playing golf at the age of 13, but after his swing deteriorated last year, he began to go to brali.
He said: "My game is starting to drop and I think, 'Oh, I may be able to do something different.
It was an important moment to bring his game to its peak: In 2016, he visited some of the best golf courses in the world, including Augusta National Golf Course, Cypress Point Club, telescope, mountain sinakok, golden stone beach.
In his mind, he said in Mount sinakok.
"This is different from any other course I have attended," he said . ".
"Very beautiful.
There are very few trees, but there are 3.
There is danger of high feet around each hole.
There was a lot of great views in that course and it was just a cool, unique place.
On Instagram for a trip in July, he wrote in the title, "Some days are tough, but some days are easy," and added the label "golf, golf, latergram. ”(
USA Today Sports picture)
In the title of his trip to Cypress Point, he called it heaven.
"I don't call it a bucket list, but the CP should be in each golfer's bucket list," he wrote . ".
"Every second is worth it.
"He loves golf and hits as much as he can, and Braley works with him to improve his swing using still effective muscles.
"I like to accept coaching," he explains, and that sentiment makes sense for a person who has been in the NFL for 7 years and has grown up in Michigan playing three sports.
"Someone said, 'Hey, can you bring your arm here like this?
You do it like, 'Oh, look at that.
"Then we sat around his house and Xiao's financial advisor called.
After a brief conversation about medical and business expenses, Xiao went into the important news of the day: his golf game.
ALS will eventually block Shaw's muscles so that someone who can beat the toughest, biggest and strongest players in the NFL will no longer be able to swing the club.
His game has been reduced, but he will not stop talking about everyone he may be dating on the golf course in the future.
He's going to brag about 75-
Yard was hit on a computer screen because for him it was an achievement worthy of a loud voice.
"Every day is a good day because Tim did it," said his father, John Shaw . ".
* The concept of hope, set goals and success is something Shaw often discusses in the Blitz, and it took him about two years to finish it and release it earlier this year.
He knows that people may read it because he used to be a professional football player --
After all, that's why I flew to Nashville to talk to him about it --
But, apart from how his life skills can help him achieve his goals in this sport and in business, it's simply not true.
It's about following your dreams, being an independent person and motivating others.
Xiao wants to continue to inspire people.
He can't do as many things as he used to do, like going to Haiti to help the children who need help there.
"I want to focus on the positive side," he said . "
"I could have written a book about all the things I saw in the NFL, the shameful things, the harm, and all of them, but for me it wouldn't help anyone.
This book is for promotion, this book is for motivation, this book is for pushing someone forward.
The relationship between Xiao and football
Everywhere in the House, from the game balls displayed on the shelves, to the books on the living room shelves about the game --is complicated.
He is very grateful to the Titans, who have been supporting him since he was diagnosed.
Three years after playing the last game, he returned to the team last season to help as their special team coordinator was fired after several games.
He looked at the tape and sorted out the weekly report.
As he wrote in the book, he also provided a little inspiration.
Before the start of the season, he was invited to the team's facilities to talk to the players.
The speech was so inspiring that every day a player wrote Xiao's name in his notebook.
USA Today Sports picture "Tim Shaw has had a huge impact on this football team," Titan coach Mike mulaki said at the end of the season.
"When I brought him to training camp, he said to the team that I think this day will be a different season.
I think something special will happen to this football team that day.
I know he has had a huge impact on my life.
He made me different.
Hasselbeck pointed out that although Shaw's position on the front line was completely different from when he played there, Titan welcomed Shaw back.
"New president, new general manager, new head coach
"When he was a player, none of these people were there," Hasselbeck said . ".
"However, they still respect him and invite him back to the team in such an incredible way.
When you leave a place, no matter how long you stay there, if team chair GM, the coach is not there when you put your body online, they don't really know you . . . . . . But (the Titans)
Completely embraced him.
However, he has a different relationship with the league's front office.
He wants to talk to the NFL about how it is now using its vast resources to ensure that the league focuses on the safety of the players and helps them after they retire.
On 2015, he contacted the NFL front desk to see if he could meet with league commissioner Roger Goodell.
He wants to talk about his experience and what else he can do.
Goodell didn't call him back.
At that time, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told reporters for victory, "the commissioner met with the league and (Tom)Brady hearing.
He had no chance to respond.
"When I contacted last week after visiting Shaw, McCarthy took responsibility for failing to contact Shaw and Goodell and said the NFL had contacted Titan to facilitate the discussion (
A spokesman for Titan confirmed this).
Before the end of the league, Xiao said he had left.
"I don't know if it's important to talk [Goodell]
"Because I don't want him to do a lot or anything in the football business anymore," he said . ".
"I didn't blame him either, but I do think a lot of people don't know anything about what football is and how it affects players.
I think more and more research needs to be done for players so that more and more players can make informed decisions about their own lives.
When asked what he would say to the Commissioner, Shaw said he just wanted to let him know about the struggles of his players and former players.
Not just him, he said.
Many players retire early because they are worried that they will struggle with mental health like many retired players.
"I think they need a personal reality to separate from the big picture of" this is business, this is football, "he said . ".
"This is life. we can do better.
The NFL has done something designed to make the game safer-including updating the concussion agreement and changing the tackle rules to eliminate the head --first hits.
It offers millions of dollars for neuroscience research and works closely with another former ALS player, New Orleans Saints hero Steve Gleeson.
There is no direct evidence that ALS is related to playing football, although a 2012 article in Neurology found that nfl veterans are four times more likely to have ALS than the general population (
In addition to Gleason, another well-known case is former defender Kevin Turner, the main plaintiff in the concussion lawsuit, who died on last November at the age of 46).
But Xiao thinks they can do more, although he admits there is no evidence that ALS is caused directly by playing football.
Although they have no evidence, he and his family do believe that the disease may be caused by a combination of genetics and his football career.
When asked about this theory, Balas of the ALS Association said that there is only anecdotal evidence that motor and neurological disorders are linked, however, efforts are being made to identify specific triggers leading to diseases such as ALS.
In the NFL's settlement with former players in the concussion lawsuit, some former players will receive up to $5 million in rewards if they have ALS.
Xiao has no regrets.
He won't take anything back.
"It's a gift to be able to play games as long as I do," he said . ".
* It's been a long day-
According to Shaw's current standards
Between golf, he took a photo of an initiative and hosted a journalist at home. Around 1 p. m.
As he waited for the end of his lunch cooking, his eyes began to tremble, trying to keep the conversation going.
This is a clear reminder that the disease disappears from him every day. .
But he is determined to finish the list of places he plans to go to this year.
Michigan and Pennsylvania promote his books. California.
South Africa with friends
That's not all he's looking forward.
Even if he left, he was looking forward to improving his golf swing.
He is determined to accomplish the goals he set on the whiteboard, no matter how simple they are.
He is determined to save the next generation from ALS, even if it may be too late to save himself.
He wants to make the game he likes safer, even if it takes too long for the NFL to acknowledge his request.
He wants Titan to be in the playoffs because he has never done that as a player.
He wants people to read his books, even if they care most about him as a football player, because he is sure they will be linked to the life lessons he has hidden in these pages.
He wanted to squeeze everything in on the days when his body left, even if he admitted that the disease forced him to slow down, just a little bit.
"We can have these big well-designed plans and we want to have these great things in life, but sometimes it's very simple," he said . ".
"Sometimes the most important thing is, 'I just want to do the right thing today.
So that's what I mean.
My life may be complicated, but it may also be simple.
I just want not to fall down today.
I am very grateful that I am in a very cool stage of life, at which I am wandering in places where I am not so interesting, but now my life is very good.
I travel, I play golf.
I have money. I have freedom.
"I have the ability, and I recognize that most people with ALS don't.
First of all, they drop faster and the body can't do too much.
So I only know where I am.
My life is great.
Except for this little thing that happened to other things.
But I also want to say that I can solve the problem if I can stay where I am.
But at this point I am crumbling and I need more help and things will get harder.
It's just a very interesting and very difficult place.
Life is so beautiful.
Can I live in the present and enjoy it? Or do I expect something that might happen?
Shaw flew to Israel last month to extract bone marrow as part of an experimental treatment.
Remove stem cells from his bone marrow and then culture them in the lab.
He flew back to Israel last week to inject them into his spine.
Shaw and his family believe that this surgery is the best hope to alleviate the disease-no other surgery has really worked so far.
Xiao lit up hope for himself, but he did not have much hope.
"I don't think there is much hope," he said . ".
"So when you hear that when you see something that has good results and can be very good, you have to stick to it.
But I 've been struggling with how much hope you give yourself.
Do you want a little comfort or a miracle of life?
"What do I pray?
Do I want God to take it or say, "Let me have more hands.
So this is a very real debate.
But hope is interesting.
"Because we need hope that even if you see us as a country, there is something you don't like, and you need to believe in the possibility of change or better possibilities.
Because if you have no hope, you will fall into despair.
"But if you allow yourself to hope it will push you to something great.
But this hope is wasted.
So I put my hopes on these stem cells. if nothing happens, what impact will it have on me?
But I do have a lot of hope.
I chose to make myself hopeful because if it doesn't work, I mean I'm right back where I am now.
Yes, it will be disappointing, but the whole thing is disappointing. ”(
Click here to buy Shaw's book)