Charleston Air Force Pilot Moves Issues on the Ground
Getting past the obstacles of life with grace and spirit

July 11, 2006: In 1969, Tom Mikolajcik graduated from the Air Force Academy and embarked on a military career as a pilot and a tour as Charleston base commander when the new C17 came into being. In 2003, he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Schlerosis (ALS) and told he had from 1 to 3 years to live. Fortunately, his affliction has progressed more slowly and he is handling it as the General that he is. Instead of giving up, he is driven to teach all who will listen about the disease.

In the USA, there are only 30,000 cases and a huge number of these are military, especially pilots and also many civilian pilots. Why? Is it stress, it is toxins present in aircraft or in military life? No one knows, but veterans are hit hard.

At this time, Tom has lost the use of his hands. He requires help to eat and to dress. He is losing his voice but determine to use computers to tell his story. The VA is getting better all of the time in helping provide for ALS sufferers. The good news, according to Tom, is that you have time to get your affairs in order, to provide for family and indeed say goodbye.

His fine neighbors recently came to him and demanded that he tell them how they can help and he now recognizes that when you allow others to help you, they are helping themselves to become better citizens. Tom noted that Johns Hopkins University and Medical Center has assumed a leadership role. MUSC has now opened a ALS chapter in Charleston. His immediate goal is to see that a nation registry of persons with ALS becomes a reality. He urged all to contact their local congressional leaders to see that Charleston and South Carolina do its share in this venture.

Reported by Fred Sales, Keyway Committee