Mary Pat's Fight for Life
Donation protected
My name is Sydney Bonham and I am 19 years old. In September of 2015, my mom, Mary Pat Connally Bonham, was diagnosed with a rare terminal illness called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. You may know it as Lou Gehrig's Disease or ALS.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. These nerve cells break down and reduce functionality in the muscles they are supposed to supply. The progression of the disease averages 2-5 years, resulting in fully body paralysis and death. There is no known cure.
By the time she was diagnosed, it was believed that my mom had had the disease for around 14 months. By now, she has had it for around 2 years. We are fortunate in that her progression is slower than average, which gives us more time to plan for what lies ahead. 24/7/365 care can cost up to $250,000 a year. Only two organizations cover part of this cost, paying only $11.50/hr for a caretaker. In order for my mom to get support from these organizations, she must place all of her assets in a trust separate from herself for 3 years. With ALS patients, time is certainly of the essence. She will need 24/7 care sooner than 2019.
As you can imagine, a person in need of 24/7 care cannot work. Because of this, my single mom will not be able to support care with her own income. Not only is ALS incredibly emotionally taxing, it is also financially exhausting. Through fundraising, I hope to lift this financial burden from my mom. While I can't cure her disease, or even slow its progression, I can do my best to support her through it. Ensuring her good care for some of the most difficult years of her life is the least I can do.
My mom is boisterous, fun, and emotionally rich. She taught me and my four siblings to always fight for what you want in life, to never give up, and to pursue the truth. Through these lessons, she was able to prepare me for what is to come with this disease. Nothing can erase ALS, but ALS can not and will not erase my mom. Every penny of your support will not only go towards care for my mom, but will also ease some of the difficulty of this disease. Every cent gives my family peace of mind and gives my siblings and I a little bit more time with our mom. For this, I cannot thank you enough.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. These nerve cells break down and reduce functionality in the muscles they are supposed to supply. The progression of the disease averages 2-5 years, resulting in fully body paralysis and death. There is no known cure.
By the time she was diagnosed, it was believed that my mom had had the disease for around 14 months. By now, she has had it for around 2 years. We are fortunate in that her progression is slower than average, which gives us more time to plan for what lies ahead. 24/7/365 care can cost up to $250,000 a year. Only two organizations cover part of this cost, paying only $11.50/hr for a caretaker. In order for my mom to get support from these organizations, she must place all of her assets in a trust separate from herself for 3 years. With ALS patients, time is certainly of the essence. She will need 24/7 care sooner than 2019.
As you can imagine, a person in need of 24/7 care cannot work. Because of this, my single mom will not be able to support care with her own income. Not only is ALS incredibly emotionally taxing, it is also financially exhausting. Through fundraising, I hope to lift this financial burden from my mom. While I can't cure her disease, or even slow its progression, I can do my best to support her through it. Ensuring her good care for some of the most difficult years of her life is the least I can do.
My mom is boisterous, fun, and emotionally rich. She taught me and my four siblings to always fight for what you want in life, to never give up, and to pursue the truth. Through these lessons, she was able to prepare me for what is to come with this disease. Nothing can erase ALS, but ALS can not and will not erase my mom. Every penny of your support will not only go towards care for my mom, but will also ease some of the difficulty of this disease. Every cent gives my family peace of mind and gives my siblings and I a little bit more time with our mom. For this, I cannot thank you enough.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sydney Bonham
Organizer
Portola Valley, CA
Mary Pat Bonham
Beneficiary