If you鈥檙e going to watch just one more ALS Ice Bucket Challenge video, this may be the one.
California-based wedding photographer Anthony Carbajal takes viewers on somewhat of an emotional roller-coaster, beginning his ice bucket challenge dressed up in pink short-shorts and a bikini top before being doused with ice-cold water, and ending the video with a heartbreaking account of what it means to live with ALS.
鈥淚鈥檝e been terrified of ALS my entire life because it runs in my family,鈥� Carbajal admits to the camera, before breaking down in tears.
Both his grandmother and mother suffer from the debilitating disease that attacks the nervous system and eventually leaves its victims completely paralysed while keeping their minds intact.
鈥淔ive months ago I was diagnosed at 26 years old,鈥� he says. 鈥淎LS is so, so f鈥攌ing scary, you have no idea.鈥�
The video shows footage of Carbajal taking care of his mother 鈥� taking her out of bed, feeding her and helping her up the stairs.
鈥淣obody talks about it because it鈥檚 so challenging to watch,鈥� he says. 鈥淣obody wants to see a depressing person that鈥檚 dying, that has two to five years to live. They don鈥檛 want to talk about it, they don鈥檛 want their day ruined.鈥�
Carbajal acknowledges that some people may be getting fed up with the flood of Ice Bucket Challenge videos inundating their Facebook newsfeed, but he says that means awareness about the fatal disease is growing.
Carbajal says he鈥檚 already started to lose strength in his hands and arms, making it difficult to button his shirt or turning the steering wheel in his car.
鈥淓ventually I won鈥檛 be able to walk, talk and breathe on my own,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 the real truth of what ALS is. It鈥檚 devastating.鈥�
Apologizing for the array of emotions in the video, Carbajal concludes: 鈥淚f I simply dump ice on my head, I don鈥檛 think you鈥檙e going to get the point.鈥�
