{"id":26639,"date":"2023-04-27T08:00:46","date_gmt":"2023-04-27T08:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/independentlens\/?post_type=blog&p=26639"},"modified":"2023-10-01T09:01:51","modified_gmt":"2023-10-01T16:01:51","slug":"laughter-is-my-outlet-how-michele-stellato-is-living-and-coping-with-als","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/dipsy.pbs.org\/independentlens\/blog\/laughter-is-my-outlet-how-michele-stellato-is-living-and-coping-with-als\/","title":{"rendered":"“Laughter Is My Outlet”: How Michele Stellato is Living and Coping with ALS"},"content":{"rendered":"

After being diagnosed as a young woman with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), Michele \u201cShelly\u201d Stellato said, “We had to decide what to do with the time we had left.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Part of that decision on living life in the moment despite the reality of her diagnosis includes maintaining a sense of humor.<\/span><\/p>\n

A communications professional, Stellato and her husband live within shouting distance of an expansive and mood-boosting network of friends and family in New Jersey, who help her\u2014as she helps them\u2014keep things light.<\/span><\/p>\n

Michele is featured in the documentary <\/span>Matter of Mind: My ALS<\/i><\/b><\/a>. She talks to us here about how she uses humor to both cope and remain an engaged activist fighting for research, and addresses some common myths and misunderstandings about the progressive neurodegenerative disease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Laughing Through Pain: “My Family Is Big on Humor”<\/span><\/h2>\n

Humor and storytelling have always been a big part of my personality. My husband will tell you that I tend to have a quick-witted comment up my sleeve, and I\u2019ve been known as someone who can lighten the mood in any situation. My family is big on humor, especially my father. He assumes the role of entertainer in all social settings. It seemed natural for me to incorporate humor as I was sharing my ALS story because that\u2019s my way of communicating and connecting with people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When I was getting immersed in the ALS world, a lot of the messaging was cold, very clinical and the commentary was often hopeless and angry\u2026 understandably. Even as a person with ALS, I was a bit deterred [about] learning more. The disease is so complex and I knew so little. The more I read, the more depressed I felt. It was like information about ALS was living in one sad bubble of only people who were directly impacted.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

A post shared by Independent Lens | PBS (@independentlens)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n