Thursday, 09 December 2010 14:51

Dear Friends of Anne Marie,

At this time her family would like to thank you for visiting her at the hospital if you were able and for your well wishes. Please continue to pray for Anne Marie. Anne Marie is comfortable, unconscious, and her family is at her bedside. Please leave your thoughts and stories of Anne Marie on the Kissmyals.com website in honor of Anne Marie's work, life and drive to make a difference in the ALS community.

Anne Marie's parents, Marjorie and Ron, request that no flowers or gifts be sent to their home. Instead, they would ask that you make a donation to Augie's Quest instead. If you would like to send a card, their address is:
Mr. and Mrs. R. Schlekeway
P.O. Box 845
208 East St. Mary's
Minooka, IL 60447

The family is grateful for the outpouring of love that you all continue to show their daughter,

Thank you,
Bridget

Last Updated on Friday, 30 July 2010 13:10 Written by Dina Bair | WGN News Friday, 30 July 2010 12:44

Listening to silence and hearing a powerful message. Your voice doesn't have to work to get your point across. Just watch closely.

Without saying a word Anne Marie Schlekeway makes people stand up. Clap.

Although she can't talk, she has others talking. Telling each other their best qualities.

Jamie Weil, Speech Participant: "It was very inspiring. It made you reflect on everything from things going on in my personal life to my job to the energy I put out there and how that kind of effects what happens in your life."

The power point speaks for Anne Marie where she can't. ALS or Lou Gherig's disease impacted her tongue muscle first. She says it can't take away her voice.

Aeron Lancero, Speech Participant: "Words are powerful but being at this one was very encouraging, very enlightening."

Anne Marie inspires others with her speechless speech. With each appearance she motivates entrepenueurs and those with chronic health conditions.

Kris Gibbons, Speech Participant: "I was really moved by what it was about."

The funds from the appearances go toward ALS research, the quest for a cure for the disease.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association has selected Anne Marie Schlekeway of Chicago to be profiled in its national campaign promoting awareness of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease), a devastating neuromuscular disorder affecting tens of thousands of Americans.

Schlekeway is one of 31 extraordinary individuals featured in the MDA online series "ALS: Anyone's Life Story." People featured in the series talk about what it's like to live with ALS, and how they've learned to adapt to the deadly, progressively paralyzing condition.

Schlekeway, 33, learned she had ALS in March 2009.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 August 2010 13:16 Written by Anne Marie Schlekeway Wednesday, 14 July 2010 12:47

Our very own Anne Marie Schlekeway from KissMyALS.com was featured on WTTW Chicago Tonight on July 13th; 2010

Last Updated on Sunday, 04 July 2010 22:49 Written by Anne Marie Schlekeway Wednesday, 30 June 2010 09:03

Billy Dec:
 
"Last night changed my life. I visited an event that caught my attention simply because of its name “story from a new friend.” when I walked in, someone said the event moved up two months because due to the speaker’s battle w/ als, they weren’t sure how long she had left to live. That put me into shock. Just as they pointed her out (a young woman w/a cane in a pink dress), she was making her way toward me w/a notebook. Als had apparently taken her ability to use her mouth to speak, because she scribbled “thank you billy,” and then gave me a hug. I was numb.

That’s me and her above. Her name is anne marie. She is a super smart, funny sweetheart who might be the strongest person I ever met. I don’t know if you can tell by my face, but to be honest, I didn’t know how to feel. I was sad and scared at first talking to someone I was told would soon be gone, yet I quickly began to chuckle words back to her as she scribbled funny things about what we had in common, how our lives have crossed in the past, and if she gave me a pair of underwear that promoted her blog, www.kissmyals.com, would I wear it. (I said yes of course! And I am promoting it now)

I learned a lot. She was an executive coach for powerful business people and companies, a ballerina, a sommelier, and so much more… even though she couldn’t do any of that anymore because of als, she somehow showed all of us in a powerpoint speech she gave (unable to talk) how she was so empowered, happy, enlightened, positive,… even when she broke down crying in front of us (broke my heart) during parts that showed the reality of what happens to those diagnosed w/ als, she recovered fast & furious w/a smile, and her strength, optimism and focus became contagious… and a lesson in life.

Imagine standing there being told how not to waste time & your life, while you have it, from someone dying. It was chilling, so true, wont forget it, and I am changing a lot of how I live my life because of it. thank you anne marie my new friend for your story. Oh, she had a request, connect with her, find her, on her blog above, on facebook, twitter, say hi… for me. (and ask her how you can get the speech she gave… so wonderful, sorry delivering it myself doesn’t do it justice, it takes hearing it from her posititon)

Imagine standing there being told how not to waste time & your life, while you have it, from someone dying. It was chilling, so true, wont forget it, and I am changing a lot of how I live my life because of it. thank you anne marie my new friend for your story. Oh, she had a request, connect with her, find her, on her blog above, on facebook, twitter, say hi… for me. (and ask her how you can get the speech she gave… so wonderful, sorry delivering it myself doesn’t do it justice, it takes hearing it from her posititon)

Anne marie you are absolutely amazing. And to you “story of a new friend,” it was a pleasure hosting your event, thank you for creating such an inspirational series."

(((Updated June 3rd :: The next series of Story from a New Friend will be next Friday, June 11th at The Underground (56 W Illinois) featuring Malachi Leopold and his documentary; “Everyone Has a Story.” visit www.anewfriend.org for more in