Stitching Hope

It was a full house at Putney's Next Stage Arts on Friday, July 24, for a screening of Stitching Hope, a documentary about ALS researcher Dr. Rick Bedlack. The film was introduced by Amelia Farnum, former CfS board president, who was diagnosed with ALS this spring. Amelia wanted to bring this film to our community to raise awareness (and funds for CfS and the ALS Association of VT), and decided to invite Dr. Bedlack himself to come to Putney. He said yes!, which gave the audience the opportunity to ask questions about his research and his hope-focused approach to medicine.

Dr. Bedlack always asks his patients what they are hoping for when he meets with them. He said he doesn't hear, "I hope you can cure me today" – it's things like seeing a child graduate, continuing to play with a band for as long as possible, creating art, even completing a marathon (or in one case, 50! And his patient did it). 

Once he knows what someone looks forward to, Dr. Bedlack and his team at Duke University can help them work toward making it happen. His message really is that we never stop living, regardless of a particular diagnosis, and his patients have things they want to experience. There are therapies to try and various trials to enroll in, but nurturing hope is an important piece of his overall treatment plan.

It was a sobering night in many ways – ALS is a cruel disease – but it was impossible not to be inspired by Dr. Bedlack and the people we meet in Stitching Hope. After listening to him talk about his career and ongoing research, you understand why patients seek him out.

Thank you to Amelia and Chad Farnum, Farnum Insulators for sponsoring the event, Next Stage Arts (especially Natalie Dreyer and Barry Stockwell), Karin Hammer-Williamson and the ALS Association of Vermont, and Dr. Bedlack.