No Stopping Veteran with ALS
Army Veteran George Scott was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), on Nov. 11, 2021. Despite the diagnosis, the former coal miner and skilled woodworker has not allowed the debilitating illness to slow him down.
ALS is a progressive, often fatal nervous system disease. It affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. Citing a report that found Veterans develop ALS at higher rates than the general population, VA in 2008 recognized ALS as a service-connected disease.
Scott, of Hillsdale in Indiana County, has always led an active life. After several years in the Army, he worked as a coal miner for 25 years in Clymer, Pennsylvania. Following an injury in the mine, he took up woodworking as a hobby. As he grew more skilled, he turned his hobby into a business.
Scott’s first woodworking jobs were with local churches. For one project, he patterned a new wood pulpit and baptismal font using cast iron from the previous design. Four local customers soon asked him to assist with full kitchen remodels.
Although ALS causes muscle paralysis, George Scott has remained active with assistance from his wife, Betty, and his VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) team.
At VAPHS, Veterans with ALS are seen in the Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Clinic as often as needed. During each visit, they see multiple specialists, including a neurologist, pulmonologist, nurse, social worker, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, registered dietitian and palliative care team members. This team of providers works closely with other VAPHS departments to streamline care and provide Veterans with the support and resources they need to live as successfully as possible with ALS.
Nowadays, George Scott is often found in his woodworking shop. He and his wife work side by side for two to three hours daily on different projects to stay active.
“I just enjoy being in the shop, no matter the project, said George Scott, who uses an iPad or a notepad — and his wife’s help — to communicate. “I really enjoy the time with my wife.”
From power mobility and self-feeders to devices to assist with speaking and coughing, VA Pittsburgh provides various resources to Veterans with ALS to help them function as independently as possible, for as long as possible. When ALS impairs a Veteran’s ability to speak, the team works with the patient to match a device with their lifestyle and goals.
“Early meetings with SLP (Speech Language Pathology), being active in the workshop and enjoying the outdoors (camping) was clearly important to Mr. Scott,” Eichhorn said. “These factors led to the decision to procure an iPad with text-to-speech software and a rugged case — just in case it went swimming in a river!”
The couple previously harvested trees on their 60-acre farm for their woodworking business, but they now work with other local woodworkers to acquire and convert scrap wood to toys. Almost daily, George Scott creates toy planes, candy dispensers, tractors, trains and more. He has completed over 300 cars for Operation Christmas, which provides its partners around the world with shoeboxes filled with small toys, hygiene items and school supplies for children.
Betty Scott said she enjoys working with her husband, noting he made her a jig so she can assist with more jobs.
“It is so nice to have that time together,” said Betty Scott.
In addition to donating toys for Operation Christmas, the Scotts sell many of their creations at area craft shows.
Editor’s note: George Scott died on April 19, 2023, after we published his story. We are grateful to him and his family for allowing us the honor of sharing his story.
Are you a Veteran who is not enrolled in VA health care? To check your eligibility:
- Call VA toll-free at 877-222-8387, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Apply online at https://bddy.me/3aU80RS
- Download the mailable VA Form 10-10EZ at https://bddy.me/3Pm7FGp. Send the completed 10-10EZ with a copy of your DD214 to VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Attn: Patient Registration, University Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15240.