Hug your kids before they go to bed.
Kiss your wife when she gets home from work.
Call your mom.
Check in on your pops.
Show your family and friends you love them, don't just say the words.
This is what Chris Combs has tried to do since he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, in May and he realized he was running out of tomorrows.
Combs, 41, a baseball standout for N.C. State in the 1990s and now an associate director with the Wolfpack Club, does have today and his goal is to make the most of it.
"You take your health for granted when you have it," Combs said. "With this, you realize what's important and worrying about what tomorrow brings is not going to do me any good. I just want to enjoy each day and do what I can with my family and create as many memories as possible."
The toughest thing to do is to continue to fight, even when you know the outcome. ALS patients typically have a life expectancy of two to five years after diagnosis. Combs' symptoms have been slowly progressing.
Over time, the disease will atrophy his muscles and ultimately make breathing difficult. But right now, he can still work, walk and go about his everyday life.
Combs understands the odds, but it only takes one look at his daughters Anne Marie, 10, and Ava, 5, and his son, Christopher, 3, to realize he's not willing to give up.
He, and his wife, Gena, are off to a productive start in his fight. In support of Project ALS, Combs and his wife have helped put together a benefit, the Hope Gala to defeat ALS, at The Umstead in Cary, N.C. that happeend Friday night.
Combs' group has raised more than $530,000 through sponsorships for the gala.
"With the people I know, I can use this to have a positive effect on others and hopefully create awareness about the disease," Combs said. "We've raised a lot of money but we will keep pushing and do what we can to help one day, hopefully, find a cure for this."
