Tow # 2: "Breaking My A.L.S. Promise" (written)

Tow #2: “Breaking My A.L.S. Promise” (Written)

            Sharon Fiffer, a contributor to The New York Times in September and author of mystery series, speaks of the popular “A.L.S. ice bucket challenge” that has been taking over social media. Sharon Fiffer wrote this op-ed piece to share her story of A.L.S. in that it took the life of her husband Gene. The challenge has received a tremendous amount of differing views and she is skeptical about it as well. Fiffer wrote her piece for all skeptical, and shared why she partakes in this challenge.

            As one who has seen the negativity brought on by A.L.S., one would think Fiffer would take a great stand with the challenge. However, she shares that her husband’s wish was for her to not let the deadly disease run her life. Her purpose in writing this piece was to share her story of why she now partakes in the challenge, and so others are less skeptical of the challenge and bring awareness.

            Fiffer included a personal anecdote to enable readers to see the importance of the A.L.S. challenge. An anecdote is a brief instant in one’s life. Fiffer writes of a time when her husband and her had lost hope to A.L.S. “I had imagined a doctor and a lab and a research center that would give us a bottle of pills, a shot in the arm, a plan, a reason to hope. Instead, we’d found a widow” (Fiffer). Sharon Fiffer struggled to accept that little was known of the terminating disease. This past event in her life appeals to reader’s emotions. The anecdote involves pathos which makes readers feel for Fiffer. Readers will then wish that this disease would be cured, so that no other couples and families lose hope. Her anecdote is effective in that it makes readers want to take a stand. Her purpose in writing had been to enable readers to see why the challenge is important, and in sharing her family’s struggles, she makes readers wish for a change. Sharon Fiffer achieved her purpose because her use of an emotional story leads readers to take a stance. Sharing her experience with A.L.S. will help others to recognize the hardships families face, and take part in the challenge so that someday other families will not have to lose hope.