Diagnosis changes his life
In 1991, 37-year-old Mark Reiman received a diagnosis that would drastically change his and his family's life. He was told he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease after the baseball player who in 1939 abruptly retired from the game after being diagnosed with ALS. But Reiman knows the diagnosis of ALS is not a game.

Most people with ALS are typically given a life expectancy of two to five years after diagnosis. But nine years later, Reiman is still around yet he faces unrelenting physical challenges. His arms and hands are the most significantly impaired, making tasks like dressing himself, cutting food and typing difficult. In 1998, Reiman retired with a disability from his teaching position at the Evergreen Middle School in Everett, Wash.

"It is very much like being buried alive," he said of his experience with ALS. "But rather than being entombed under the ground, we are literally entombed -- buried alive -- inside our own bodies." This kind of change may seem insurmountable to many, but Reiman has found ways to turn his changes into chances -- chances for growth.

Taking chances and challenges
Since his retirement from teaching, Reiman has written a book, "Through the Perilous Fight: Living a Life of Challenge," co-founded and became editor-in-chief of Incredible People magazine and spoken to audiences across the United States about turning life challenges into gifts and opportunities.

Reiman said his most challenging experience with his ALS is trying to live every day in a manner that defeats fear and regret. "Right now, I believe I have a pretty good handle on it," he said. Then, he compares fear and regret to the mythical Medusa who was difficult to kill. "True love is the only thing more powerful than fear, and I'm working on living that every day," Reiman said.

Loving life for Reiman apparently entails pursuing goals and achieving them. In 1998, he became the first person to sing the national anthem in all 30 of the major league baseball parks in one season. This "Season of Hope" tour was particularly important to Reiman because it was an effort to heighten public awareness about ALS. "When I finished the national anthem in Dodger Stadium, the 30th and last ballpark on the tour, I felt a little like Charles Lindbergh may have felt … doing something that no one had ever done before," Reiman said.

More than a feeling of pride, Reiman is grateful to have been given such an opportunity. "I was very thankful for the people who had made it possible, and hopeful that what we had set out to do and eventually accomplished would truly help others see greater possibilities in their own lives," he said.

Putting goals, ambitions in priority
Reiman's vitality is still strong enough to be channeled in new directions. He has multiple goals defined that reflect his diverging interests. Reiman works to make every issue of his Incredible People magazine "the very best, most compelling, enjoyable, widely read, inspirational e-zine on the Internet" and hopes it will be developed into a TV show.

He also organized a two-day, 80- to 90-mile bicycle tour called the Skagit Valley ALS Bike Classic to raise money and heighten awareness about ALS and bring greater support to people living with the condition. The August event raised more than $55,000 with riders from Washington, Idaho, Oregon, California and Colorado taking part. "A great time was had by all!" Reiman said, who already has plans to repeat the event Aug. 11-12, 2001. "Our goal is 200 riders and $100,000 -- all having the bicycling time of their lives and really making a difference for others at the same time," Reiman said.

Both of these goals are important to him, but he has prioritized his ambitions. "My most important and basic goal is to help people discover their own natural, powerful connection with God and to see that the only thing God really calls us to do is to truly, authentically love every piece of life on earth," Reiman said.

When all is complete, Reiman said he hopes he is remembered as a good husband, father, friend and someone who helped people discover the best in themselves and others. He is someone who loves life, believes in having fun and living as closely as he can to his own wisdom.

Reiman's words of wisdom
"I wake up every morning knowing that each day is a truly precious gift, a gift that I am not owed. I know that my purpose for each day is:
1. love God with all my heart and love my neighbor;
2. be the very best person I know how to be;
3. help in some way at least one person whose path my own life crosses."

On the book, "Tuesdays with Morrie": "In terms of the physical devastation of ALS, yes, he was a perfect example of ALS. Emotionally and spiritually, Morrie was a very remarkable human being -- an 'advanced' soul."
"I try to live every day in a manner that defeats fear and regret."
"True love is the only thing more powerful than fear and I'm working on living that every day."
On his feelings for music: "Music is a very much a medium of the mind and the spirit. While I greatly miss being able to physically compose, direct and perform, music provides a connection to the spirit of others and to our own spirit that nothing else does. I also feel satisfied and grateful that the music I have written and performed is a gift that will live on long after I do-that will help bring that same experience of spirit and truth to others."