Thank you for helping us reach our Walk to Defeat ALS® fundraising goal! This is an amazing opportunity for us to work together to support those affected by Lou Gehrig's Disease and to spread awareness of the urgency to find treatments and a cure. As many of you know, this is a cause near and dear to our hearts. Here's a little about our story. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. The life expectancy of an ALS patient averages 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis. For our mom, she held on for 5 strong years.
At first, she just had problems lifting her foot, she started tripping and falling. It continued to progress until she had to use a cane to walk, then 2 canes, then a walker, then a wheelchair, then a power chair, until she was barely able to get in and out of bed. We watched her struggle through simple tasks that took all her energy, and yet, through it all she was ALWAYS POSITIVE!
From Jane:
I remember one day when I had to help lift her into the shower with this large contraption when she was barely able to move. After the shower, I could tell she was exhausted, but all she said was, "that wasn't so bad, I just needed a little help!" When she got to the point where it was too hard to lift her hands above her head to wash her hair, she did the simplest solution, she shaved her head! I wish I'd seen the look on my Dad's face when he got home! She never complained that life was unfair, or "why me". I have NEVER in my life seen someone face such difficulty with the positivity and grace my mom did. I am so proud of how she handled this terrible disease and SO proud to be her daughter. Mom passed away 3 months after I got married, September 6, 2010. Having my mom happy and smiling when I walked down the aisle is the biggest blessing of my life.
From Judy:
The ALS Association does more than just fund research for a cure or treatment, the local chapter here in Indiana was an excellent resource for us. Mom called them frequently with questions from insurance to companies that rented home equipment. They also sponsored a Care Giver Training Day which Dad and I both attended and found very beneficial. Nothing about ALS is easy, but having the association and Mom's superb attitude helped us cope with every new difficulty. As many of you know, I was very close to Mom. She was an extrodinary woman and unrivaled parent . I hope to honor her well by raising money for this much needed organization. Thank you all for your support.
We were lucky. We had the MOST AMAZING MOM in the world for 25 yrs, some people live their whole lives not having the love that we did. However, there is so much we wish we could share with our mom, but ALS took that away. With your help, we can help other familes living with ALS and one day find a cure. It just takes a little funding! ;) Please consider walking with us or sponsoring us. I encourage you get your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers involved!
Thanks so much and LOTS OF LOVE for all your support!
Jane, Judy, and Family
Why We Need Your Help
Every 90 minutes a person in this country is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes another person will lose their battle against this disease. ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries.
This crippling disease can strike anyone. Presently there is no known cause of the disease though support is bringing researchers closer to an answer. In the mean time it costs an average of $200,000 a year to provide the care ALS patients need. Help make a difference and donate or join a walk today.
