RateItAll: The Opinion Network

A scary degenerative disorder that can strike anyone for reasons we don't yet understand, Lou Gherig's Disease causes the slow deterioration of motor neurons, gradually paralyzing its victim. It's completely incurable and anguishing for the affected individual, who must watch as his body slowly wastes away.

This is a disease that scares the living s**t right out of me. It terrifies me. My father's best friend had it, and he died miserably; he had to be moved from the bed to the couch to a wheelchair in some sort of medieval-appearing contraption with a harness, and couldn't even swallow unaided. From what I understand, he came down with some sort of flu or virus and wouldn't allow anyone to treat him, thereby dying much quicker than he might have otherwise, which was merciful. I've never been suicidal in my life, but if they diagnose me with Lou Gehrig's tomorrow, it would definitely be an option I would consider. After seeing what this wonderful, warm human being had to go through, suicide doesn't seem all that scary.