One Brewers fan battling ALS gets a pleasant surprise

MILWAUKEE -- 77-year-old Paul Schmitter is a gifted architect whose designs include the Ronald McDonald House and nearly 50 churches. Along the way, Schmitter built a lifetime of baseball memories -- first with the Milwaukee Braves and now the Brewers.

Schmitter's also a big fan of the late, great Lou Gehrig, but not of the fatal disease that bears the name of the immortal New York Yankees iron man. He has ALS, a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that controls voluntary muscle movement.

There is no known cure for ALS. In fact, death often occurs within three to five years of diagnosis. But like anyone who has ever had the dreaded disease, Schmitter's desire is to strike out ALS.

"My attitude is, I've been blessed. I've led a very full life, a very successful life, and I have loved ones and friends around me," said Schmitter. "I'm looking forward to the day when they have a cure, for my sons and grandchildren and for everyone." 

The Milwaukee Brewers did something that allowed Schmitter to forget about his ALS, if only for one night. They arranged for Schmitter to meet with catcher Jonathan Lucroy and then watch a Brewers win.