Steve Diehl wants to use his narrative to illuminate his story of living and coming to terms with ALS after a career in firefighting and as a paramedic.

Diehl's journey in the firefighting world began in 1991, a decision fueled by the stories of his grandfather's volunteer firefighting days.

"My grandfather told stories of being a volunteer fireman in Illinois, and I would hear his stories. That is what got me started on this field," Diehl said.

He said his passion for the job sprouted from the joy of connecting with people and mentoring the next generation firefighters.

Throughout his career, Diehl encountered both uplifting and challenging moments but was able to get past the hard times through the camaraderie of his fellow firefighters. He recounted one of his proudest achievements: saving a bedridden lady from a house fire by cutting a hole in the wall. This led to his crew receiving the Firefighter Excellence Award in Illinois.

In September 2022, upon moving to the small Alabama town of Linden, ALS entered Diehl's life. By this March, he could no longer walk. He is losing his ability to swallow and breathe properly.

Despite the hardships, he remains positive, aiming to raise awareness about ALS, a degenerative condition that affects motor neurons and lacks a cure.

“My goal is to get it (ALS) recognized, as you know, it is out there and it is where cancer was 30 years ago when it comes to treatments and being known,” Diehl said.

A study by the International Association of Fire Fighters in 2010 revealed firefighters are twice as likely to develop ALS due to factors like work schedules, exposure to chemicals and hypoxia.

“It is not something that is really widespread known,” Diehl said.

Diehl's connection with ALS traces back to 1991 when he aided a police officer with ALS, unknowingly foreshadowing his own journey.

“One of my jobs, what we would do on a weekly basis, is go over to his house and help his wife clear his tube and move him around. I got see how devastating the disease could be and didn’t give it much thought after that," he said.

Diehl's wife concurred, acknowledging ALS wasn't on their radar at the time.
Years prior to his diagnosis, Diehl had conversations with his fire chief about his leg giving out.

“My goal is to teach people not to take the warning signs for granted and also that when you take care of people, when you take care of the ALS patients, the best resource you could have — because as you're coming into a house of not really knowing the patient — is to use the caregivers that they have,” he said.

His wife and son now serve as his caregivers after gaining a deep understanding of his condition and needs.

The Diehl family established the Facebook page "The Real Diehl Fighting ALS." The page serves as a platform for both reflections and lighthearted moments.

“The people that have been online have impacted me by, one, helping keep me grounded because I get depressed because of this. The support has been great,” Diehl said.

He added that the site allows for what he describes as “goofy moments” and moments of seriousness about the disease.

The page features people who share stories of their time with Diehl to spread positivity. Diehl's wife contributes to the page as well, recounting about a time when she posted about her husband's craving for a Chicago-style pizza and a firefighter in Illinois was sending him the pizza to help his craving. She added that these moments of light-heartedness hold special significance for her, offering a welcome break from the seriousness that often accompanies their situation.

“The fire department family I have all over the county have reached out in support and just to know I have such a great extended family to the fire service,” Diehl said.

Diehl and his family remain committed to their mission. They plan to participate in the ALS walk at the University of South Alabama in September, celebrating not only ALS awareness but also their upcoming 22nd wedding anniversary. He is supposed to be a guest speaker at the Alabama EMS conference in Orange Beach in November. Diehl's message is to always move forward, enjoy the time you have with you family and try to do what you can while you can.

“Have the hard talks with your family, how you feel and how they feel," he said, "but remember every moment you have with them is a blessing."