• CHRISTINA BURKE - Victoria Advocate
• Originally published May 24, 2008 at 12:33 a.m., updated May 24, 2008 at 12:33 a.m.

SCHROEDER —“We were cooking chili before CASI even organized,” said Wayne Roessler.

He and his wife LaFon have belonged to the Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) since 1981, but have been participating in chili cook-offs all over the state of Texas since 1979, placing in and winning many over the years.

The couple was very involved with chili cook-offs until two years ago, when she was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Today, their friends with the Victoria and Surrounding Areas pod, the local chapter of CASI, will be giving back to them with a benefit chili cook-off at Colet Inn in Schroeder.

ALS is a deterioration of neurons in the brain and the spinal cord that eventually paralyzes the affected person.

“The ALS just gnarls you up...it’s something terrible. Neurons in your brain and your neck die, your muscles whither away,” she said holding up her right arm. “This muscle is gone.”

Unable to use her right hand, she no longer paints or crafts like she used to. “You feel useless as you can be,” she said. On the wall in their dining room hangs a painting of magnolia flowers, a testament to the the talent she once had, now robbed of by ALS.

While in Houston for a consultation, her doctor took one look at Wayne and said, “You have Parkinson's.”

“He just threw that in for good measure, I guess,” said Wayne.

“We got that all at one time and that was a low blow,” she said.

The debilitating disease has bound her to a wheelchair unable to walk because of her weak muscles and she falls often. He is building ramps all over so she can have access to other parts of the house.

“Don’t let anyone ever tell you that ALS is not painful because it is,” she said in her soft voice. “You have cramps everywhere. When the cramps are so bad you just want to scream and they can’t do anything about it. There’s no treatment and no cure for this disease.”

“His is the same way, he has Parkinson’s, there’s treatment, but no cure. So we’re here the two of us. Wayne does all the housework, and washing because I just have the one hand,” she said.

“You feel very guilty that you can’t do something, that you can’t help. All you can do is just sit in your wheelchair and do nothing. That’s why I have Peanut to keep me company.”

Peanut is her terrier Chihuahua mix. He sits in her lap curling up and resting there for a while.

“We don’t know who is going to take care of us,” she said, her eyes welling up with tears. Married for 41 years, they have no retirement to speak of and are living on the small pension provided by Social Security.

He remains optimistic saying they will get home health to come in and help take care of them.

And their children do help with the lawn maintenance.

She goes to a clinic once a month in San Antonio but even that is difficult with the price of gasoline so high.

“I get to thinking about later on when our money runs out,” she laments.

“You don’t have to worry about that ‘til it happens,” her husband reassures her.

When the VASA learned of their situation members nominated, discussed and voted on making them the beneficiaries of the cook-off, said Jenifer Danysh, VASA vice president. “They are members of the VASA pod and they’ve always helped, they were in need.”

The non-profit organization purpose is to raise funds for benefits like this one. In this situation the VASA pod will be giving back to two longtime members who have contributed for years to raising funds for others she said.

“We’re just trying to help them out with their daily medical expenses since neither one of them is able to do any work anymore. CASI has chili cook-offs to benefit people who are in need, that’s what we’re all about, said Dianna Hoy, VASA president. “Since they are one of our members we just want to help them out.”

Christina Burke is a reporter for the Advocate contact her at 361-580-6511 or cburke @vicad.com.

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