Iceland and how things have been in 2006

This year has been lot of work for the ALS/MND association in Iceland as well as for the Nordic alliance and The International Alliance.

One of our biggest fight has been for the real choice of home respirator. This fight has come a long way here in Iceland, with tremendous help from our Danish friends. They have been over here and professionals from Iceland have visited them, to learn how the system works over there. This task is just about to end with full service for us.

Holding the Nordic meeting took lot of time bud it was worth it. Fantastic meeting in Selfoss made lot of people realize that we in Iceland are in many things far away from our brothers and sisters in other Nordic countries. 150 people came and all are happy with the stay. Next year we will meet in Norway.

The international work took some time, with 4 telephone meetings during the year and of course this fantastic meeting in Japan in the end of November. Over 600 people got together there, all working towards the same goal. I am still smiling from that meeting. One thing I learned from the Japanese is to make shore that everyone getting on respirator has to decide when to turn off the machine. Everyone, write your living will before it is to late. Next year we will meet in Canada, we will be there.

We published our book with poems, paintings and musical CD, witch we are selling to support our work. Gift from Icelandic (and one American) artists.

We had wonderful vacation in Denmark this summer, meeting our friends over there.

A short visit from my “mom and dad” living in USA was great experience. I am so lucky to have extra parents living in USA, sins I was an exchange student over there some 30 years ago. Wonderful people. Hope to meet them again on my way to Canada next year.

The work I am doing is of course based on help from my four wonderful girls. My oldest girl, my Halla, is under lot of strain because of everything I do, she has to help me with so many things if not all. She is my wife and best friend. Our 3 girls are doing well in school, although the ALS/MND is affecting them as it is doing to all of us.

In 2007 there are many tasks we need to work on, and one of them is spending more time with my girls. Using any extra time to find cure for ALS/MND.

ALS/MND has not jet made me go on respirator bud it is getting there. I do not leave the house without using my wheelchair. I am still eating and drinking. (To much)

We here in Iceland thank you all for your support in 2006 and wish you all the best for 2007.

Gudjon, Halla, Árnný Sigurbjörg, María Lovísa and Elín Helga