Dolores's battle against ALS

***UPDATE 5/4/23***

Dolores Gonzales passed at home surrounded by loved ones on April 20th, 2023. Her primary caregivers were her children, but with the generous donations received through this GoFundMe, they were able to hire a caregiver through an agency. Although funds were primarily used for care for Dolores, as she needed 24/7 assistance, we were also able to improve her quality of life with things like medical massages, a death doula and medical supplies that were not covered by insurance.

Any time her children have taken off work to be with their mother for the last 6 months has been unpaid. So any additional donations will go towards Delo's after life expenses.

We encourage you all to read up a bit on ALS and how it effects those who have the disease. It's impact was felt not just by Dolores, but her entire family. You can read about it here https://www.mda.org/disease/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis/signs-and-symptoms/stages-of-als or at www.als.org

Thank you for all your donations, shares, kind words and visits. We appreciate each and every one of them.

We will have a celebration of life for Dolores on May 20th, 2023. For those wishing to attend please reach out to Mercedes Traylor at [email redacted]

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As many of you already know, our beloved mother, daughter, sister, and friend, Dolores Gonzales, was diagnosed with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease. This diagnosis came as a complete shock to Dolores and her family.

ALS is a terminal disease of the nervous system that weakens muscles and impacts their physical function. Things like walking, talking, eating, and breathing are impacted. While many diagnosed with ALS see a slower decline spanning over years, Dolores's symptoms have rapidly progressed, leaving her unable to care for her basic needs. She is currently being cared for by her children, but with 24/7 care needed, we are turning to GoFundMe for additional support.

ALS is a very rare disease with no cure or real treatment. Medical professionals are not even sure what causes it. Because of the severity of the disease and the lack of treatment options, our families main priority is to focus on Delo's quality of life.

Donations will go towards hiring additional experienced caretakers to assist in her day-to-day life. Estimated cost for qualified caregivers range from $20-$30 an hour. As Dolores uses several medical devices, such as a CPAP machine and a Gastrostomy tube (G-tube), and has very limited mobility, it is important that she have someone who is experienced.

Funds will also go towards things that can improve Dolores quality of life, including additional devices and transportation modifications that are not covered by insurance. We would also like for her children to have the ability to take time off work as needed to be with their mother without financial hardship.

Dolores is such a loving, generous person. If you've had the opportunity to know her in any capacity, you know of her willingness to help others. Now is our chance to support her in this time of need. Every donation and share is greatly appreciated by our family.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.