Upon first glance, you might think Steve Saling needs a lot of help in his daily life. Steve is in a wheelchair, one that has him strapped in, with screens and desks in front of him.
Steve looks like he's in a giant contraption of a wheelchair, but it is what he needs to live his life. Ten years ago, Steve was diagnosed with ALS, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
ALS, which stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It is also a progressive disease, which means that it affects people more and more over time.
According to the ALS Association, the degeneration of nerve cells means that "the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, people may lose the ability to speak, eat, move and breathe."
Although ALS is 100 percent fatal, Steve doesn't see it as a death sentence. He may live in a nursing home, but you'd never be able to tell by looking at it — it looks just like any other home.
Steve never expected to be living in a nursing home in his 40s, but he's taking his diagnosis in stride. ALS doesn't affect cognitive abilities, so Steve is still sharp as a tack.
"For me, ALS was not the end of my life, just a change in its direction," he says in the video below. And he thinks that with modern technology and his willingness to embrace change, he should be able to lead a long, happy life with ALS.
But how does he open doors with his eyes? Well, you'll just have to watch the video to find out!
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