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© ALS Independence 2003-11
By Doug Grow
Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012
Sen. Gary KublyThe Senate chamber, typically a place filled with the buzz of
dozens of conversations, was totally quiet Tuesday afternoon.
Sen. Gary Kubly, DFL-Granite Falls, was speaking, and the other 66 senators were
trying hard to understand the words he was saying. There were sounds filled with
passion coming from Kubly's lips, but the words were unintelligible.
Kubly was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) 18 months ago. The awful
progress of the disease was painfully obvious for all to see and hear. Only a
few months ago, Kubly was much easier to understand, and he could move around
with the aid of a walker.
Now at the start of this new session — which will be Kubly's last — his
colleagues strained to hear.
After he had uttered a few sentences, he pushed a button on an iPad. He had
typed what he had spoken, and now the machine was doing the talking for him.
"I'd like to thank all the members and the staff for all they have done for me,"
the automated voice said.
He uttered/typed a few more phrases of appreciation, hit the button, and the
automated voice flatly repeated them. There was a moment of silence — then, a
long, sincere standing ovation.
It was one of those movingly human moments that brought everyone together. Of
course, it won't last. Soon, members of the Minnesota Senate, many of whom are
filled with large amounts of self-importance, will be bickering over issues
large and small.
"Self-discipline is the key that opens the door that leads to success." Rafael Lama
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© ALS Independence 2003-11