Today is the first day of a new year. It’s also one day past last year. Officially, I’m living on borrowed time. Neurologists use an assessment score to determine approximately how long a patient with ALS can expect to live.

Some with ALS live for over 10 years. Average life expectancy is two to five years from disease onset and diagnosis, although somewhat less with respiratory onset ALS.

It’s not a perfect science.

My life expectancy was approximately six months. Six months and one day ago. Or, put another way, yesterday. That means I’m living on borrowed time today.

What does that mean?

to continue to live past the time one was expected to die and be likely to die soon

One extra day isn’t much.

I say that because as much as I enjoy my wife’s smile and our grandkid’s antics, I’m tired beyond any level ever experienced. Whatever is beyond tired, I’m beyond that. My body aches and refuses to do what I ask. My heart is heavy and my spirit weak.

But I’m still here.

I’m just living on borrowed time.