Living While Dying: An ALS Story

Minnesota Public Radio

Bruce Kramer lived a remarkably rich life because of – not despite – an incurable, always fatal disease: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He was diagnosed with ALS December 6, 2010. While the disease diminished his body, it expanded his life and spirit. He shared that experience with Minnesota Public Radio News host Cathy Wurzer over nearly five year of conversations.

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Top 10 Living While Dying: An ALS Story Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Living While Dying: An ALS Story episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Living While Dying: An ALS Story for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Living While Dying: An ALS Story episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

4. Being a teacher

Living While Dying: An ALS Story

07/03/15 • 10 min

When he was diagnosed with ALS, Bruce Kramer was a dean and professor in the University of St. Thomas School of Education. As the disease weakened his body, it made teaching more difficult. It also helped him focus on what was important in his professional life.

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22. Teaching doctors

Living While Dying: An ALS Story

11/06/15 • 10 min

Bruce Kramer felt that the doctor who first told him that he had ALS did not deliver the devastating news with the proper compassion. Bruce decided to go back and give the doctor a critique on his bedside manner in the hope that future patients would have a better experience.

9. Christmas reflections

Living While Dying: An ALS Story

08/07/15 • 12 min

Two years since being diagnosed with ALS, Bruce Kramer re-evaluates his priorities. As Christmas approaches, he has the time and solitude to appreciate the season more than ever.

14. drug trial ethics

Living While Dying: An ALS Story

09/11/15 • 15 min

Bruce Kramer believed that researchers need to rethink the way they test new drugs on ALS patients like him. He argued that the double-blind testing model doesn't work for a devastating fatal illness like ALS. In this episode of Living While Dying, we also hear from a bio-ethicist about the decision to deny some patients access to an experimental drug.

12. Adaptive yoga

Living While Dying: An ALS Story

08/28/15 • 12 min

After being diagnosed with ALS, Bruce Kramer learned to appreciate the value of yoga. He found it to be a freeing and emotional experience. It helped Bruce reconnect with parts of his body that were affected by the disease.

10. Drug trial disappointment

Living While Dying: An ALS Story

08/14/15 • 10 min

Bruce Kramer participated in a drug trial to determine if Dexpramipexole could slow the progression of ALS. Kramer felt the drug was working for him and was frustrated when the trial was terminated.

27. Focus

Living While Dying: An ALS Story

12/24/15 • 24 min

Bruce Kramer says ALS helped him focus on what is important in life: love and relationships. He also talks about a device he's been using that helps him breathe and the decision to enter hospice.

8. An Early Retirement

Living While Dying: An ALS Story

07/31/15 • 9 min

People who've been hit hard by a very serious health challenge wrestle with a lot of questions right after their diagnosis. One of them is, "can I, should I, keep working?" Bruce Kramer talks about his battle with this question.

5. A wife becomes a caregiver

Living While Dying: An ALS Story

07/10/15 • 13 min

A conversation with Bruce Kramer and his wife Ev Emerson about their evolving relationship. As his ALS progresses, she is becoming a caregiver.

17. Paper cuts

Living While Dying: An ALS Story

10/02/15 • 13 min

In the fall of 2013, the losses of ALS - or paper cuts, as Bruce called them - kept coming.

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FAQ

How many episodes does Living While Dying: An ALS Story have?

Living While Dying: An ALS Story currently has 29 episodes available.

What topics does Living While Dying: An ALS Story cover?

The podcast is about Podcasts and Science.

What is the most popular episode on Living While Dying: An ALS Story?

The episode title '4. Being a teacher' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Living While Dying: An ALS Story?

The average episode length on Living While Dying: An ALS Story is 13 minutes.

How often are episodes of Living While Dying: An ALS Story released?

Episodes of Living While Dying: An ALS Story are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Living While Dying: An ALS Story?

The first episode of Living While Dying: An ALS Story was released on Jul 3, 2015.

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Living While Dying: An ALS Story

Minnesota Public Radio

Top 10 Living While Dying: An ALS Story Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does Living While Dying: An ALS Story have?

What topics does Living While Dying: An ALS Story cover?

What is the most popular episode on Living While Dying: An ALS Story?

What is the average episode length on Living While Dying: An ALS Story?

How often are episodes of Living While Dying: An ALS Story released?

When was the first episode of Living While Dying: An ALS Story?

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