Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a fatal neuromuscular disease
             that is characterized by the progressive muscle loss that
             results in paralysis. A.L.S. was diagnosed by the French
             neurologist, Jean-Martin Charcot in 1869. As of now, there is no
             known cure for A.L.S., but Rilutek is a FDA approved drug that
             can slow down the progression of A.L.S. Though it is almost always
             fatal, there are rare instances where the progression of A.L.S. does
             plateaus, or have stopped completely.
             Morrie Schwartz wrote his own epitaph:
             "A Teacher to the Last." Born December 20, 1916,
             he graduated from New York's City College, and
             won a fellowship to the University of Chicago, where
             he earned both a master's and Ph.D. in sociology.
             In 1959, he began a lifelong career teaching sociology at Brandeis University.
             He continued teaching classes after he was diagnosed
             with ALS at the age of seventy-six, incorporating what
             he was learning about the meaning of life as he faced
             impending death. When ABC-TV's "Nightline"
             producer heard of his classes, Ted Koppel flew to
             Boston for the first of three interviews with Morrie.
             The shows were among the highest rated ever for "Nightline."
             Morrie Schwartz's final "class" with Mitch Albom was the week
             of his death. Morrie was seventy-nine.
             He is survived by his wife, Charlotte, sons, Rob and Jon, and
             hundreds of former students whose lives he influenced.
             MITCH ALBOM, 44, is a best-selling author, nationally syndicated newspaper columnist for the Detroit Free Press, nationally syndicated radio host for ABC and flagship station WJR-AM in Detroit, and television commentator. MITCH ALBOM is the author of seven books, including "Tuesdays With Morrie, "the phenomenal New York Times bestseller that first appeared on that list in October 1997 and stayed atop the list for four straight years. Oprah Winfrey produced a major television movie for ABC based on "Tuesdays With Morrie" th...