A Long Island man has died after spending close to 30 years championing a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) while also battling the debilitating disease himself, according to Newsday.
Christopher Pendergast died at his home on Wednesday, 28 years after he was diagnosed with ALS, which is also commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease, his family confirmed to the outlet. He was 71.
Michelle Johnson-Anderson never intended to become a nurse. It was a guidance counselor at Panama Central School who pointed her in that direction.
That advice ultimately set into motion what ended up being a 40-year career in the field, with the last half as the longest-serving instructor for the licensed practical nursing program at Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES. During that time she has helped guide aspiring nurses into countless careers in hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and management.