Stephen Hillenburg, creator of Spongebob Squarepants, has Lou Gehrig's disease.

[Skywatcher]

A source says that he received the diagnosis early and is still in the early stages of the neurodegenerative disease, and Hillenburg confirmed it in a statement that also says he’ll continue to work on the show for as long as he can.

[Quartz]

So, one for next year’s Death Pool?

[running_coach]

@Quartz

So, one for next year’s Death Pool?

From here.

Although the life expectancy of a person with ALS averages about two to five years from the time of diagnosis, this disease is variable, and many people can live with the disease for five years and more. More than half of all people with ALS live more than three years after diagnosis.

Half of all people affected with ALS live at least three or more years after diagnosis. Twenty percent live five years or more; up to ten percent will live more than ten years.

[WordMan]

@Quartz

So, one for next year’s Death Pool?

Too soon, yes?

I read the news too. He’s brought a lot of silliness and joy to the world.

[Sir_T-Cups]

@WordMan

Too soon, yes?

I read the news too. He’s brought a lot of silliness and joy to the world.

This is so sad because of this very reason.

Spongebob is truly one of the great animated shows of our time.

[Amateur_Barbarian]

@WordMan

He’s brought a lot of silliness and joy to the world.

Never an accomplishment to be underestimated.

Damn.

[DrCube]

I thought he stopped working on the show over a decade ago, after the (first) Spongebob movie came out?

Derp, I should read the article next time:

Hillenburg recently returned to the series as an executive producer after spending a decade away from Bikini Bottom.

[gaffa]

It’s a horrible way to go. My brother-in-law died of ALS, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

[nearwildheaven]

Horrible, horrible disease. Hope he can work and enjoy a good quality of life for as long as he can.

[Larry_Borgia]

@gaffa

It’s a horrible way to go. My brother-in-law died of ALS, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

This is why I support the right to die. I hope when the time comes and quality of life declines he and others like him have the right and opportunity to make the least bad choice for themselves. For heaven’s sake, we do this for dogs and cats.

[nearwildheaven]

@Larry_Borgia

This is why I support the right to die. I hope when the time comes and quality of life declines he and others like him have the right and opportunity to make the least bad choice for themselves. For heaven’s sake, we do this for dogs and cats.

The closest thing we have is refusal of treatment, which he (or anyone else) has the right to do at any time.

I knew of a woman who had this, and it was less than 6 months from the time she had the first symptoms until she had to make the decision about whether or not to go on a ventilator. She did not want to do that (she already had a feeding tube) and within a short time, contracted pneumonia, for which she also refused antibiotics, and died.

That doesn’t sound like a terrific way to go, either.