Steve Gleason, the former Saints safety who was diagnosed with ALS in 2011, has released a new book about his life and career, entitled A Life Impossible. Gleason has been an inspiration and an advocate for other patients, and he has worked with major tech companies like Microsoft to develop new and innovative ways for ALS patients to communicate, interact with the world around them, and move around more easily.
The Block That Lifted a City
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Gleason is best known for an amazing blocked punt that led to a touchdown against Atlanta in 2006, in the first home game for the Saints since Hurricane Katrina. Gleason’s block, the touchdown, and the ensuing victory over the rival Falcons was an inspiring and uplifting moment for all those in New Orleans who had lost everything in one of the worst natural disasters in US history. The moment is now immortalized as a 9-foot bronze statue outside the New Orleans Superdome.
Documentary Starts Shortly After ALS Diagnosis
Shortly after his diagnosis, Steve started working with director Clay Tweel on what he hoped would be an inspirational documentary as well as a video journal for his newborn son. As the film progresses, Gleason goes from being in top physical shape to losing the ability to walk. It’s a tragic progression, but Steve’s infallible positivity throughout the film has been a great inspiration to all who have seen it.
The film, simply titled Gleason, went on to rave reviews and awards at Sundance and other film festivals. It was released in theaters nationwide and made available on multiple streaming services. Gleason was also among the top 15 documentaries considered for an Academy Award in 2016.
Gleason Pioneers New Technology for ALS Patients
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In 2015, Steve and his foundation, Team Gleason, began working with Microsoft to develop eye-tracking technology that would allow totally paralyzed individuals to operate a wheelchair using just eye movement. This technology was also adapted to enable control of keyboards, mice, and other computer components. The technology was fully implemented into Windows 10.
As a result of this revolutionary research and Gleason’s tireless efforts to raise awareness for ALS, the U.S. Congress awarded Steve with the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, our nation’s highest civilian honor, on January 15, 2020.
Congress also passed the Steve Gleason Act in 2015. This act expanded Medicare coverage to include the cost of eye tracking equipment as well as speech synthesis equipment. Team Gleason continues to work with Microsoft and other tech companies to further improve the lives of ALS patients everywhere.
“A Life Impossible”
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Steve’s new book, A Life Impossible – Living with ALS: Finding Peace and Wisdom Within a Fragile Existence, was released on April 30, 2024. Steve used the same eye-tracking technology he helped develop and worked with co-author Jeff Duncan to create not just a memoir, but an inspirational guide to finding joy in the most difficult circumstances imaginable.
Steve Gleason should be an inspiration to us all as an unsinkable spirit who is not only surviving this insidious disease, but making giant leaps forward for others in the form of inspiration, technology, public awareness, and fundraising.
Team Gleason continues to be on the forefront of ALS research, having brought together over a thousand scientists and collected over 20 trillion data points, with the goal of identifying better treatments and hopefully finding a cure. Please follow this link to learn more about Team Gleason, their groundbreaking work, and their endless generosity with ALS patients around the country.
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