- H
- L
- A
From the day Mariah & I met at school, I knew she had such a loving spirit. What I admire most about her is, it didn’t matter who you were, she was friends with everyone. And always being herself, no matter what. I ask that you please take a few minutes and read about my beautiful friend Mariah, and her story below. Thank you in advance.
She started experiencing hand related problems in September of 2018, so much that it started effecting her job. So she scheduled an appointment with a hand specialist/nerve doctor. The doctor ran some tests and then requested several MRI’s to rule out other possibilities. Still with no real answers, she was then referred to a general neurologist. The GN then admitted her overnight and ran every test he could think of, to rule out other possible diagnosis’s. When all the tests came back negative and without a real diagnosis, the GN then referred her to a muscular neurologist. After some additional tests were ran and had CT scans done, the specialist then diagnosed Mariah with ALS in April of 2019. With the diagnosis being so shocking and surreal, Mariah and her family decided they wanted a second opinion so they were referred to The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Once they arrived, they met some of the best and top doctors in their field. Mariah and her family were there for a total of 3 days, and in that time even more test were performed. At the end of her visit, the Doctor at The Mayo Clinic then confirmed her diagnosis of ALS in May of 2019.
What is ALS? Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS, is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. ALS often begins with muscle twitching and weakness in a limb, or slurred speech. Eventually, ALS affects control of the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe. There is no cure for this disease. ALS often starts in the hands, feet or limbs, and then spreads to other parts of your body. As the disease advances and nerve cells are destroyed, your muscles get weaker. This eventually affects chewing, swallowing, speaking and breathing. An ALS diagnosis comes with a 2-5 year life span after the diagnosis. Over 50% of people with ALS live for more than 3 years, 20% live 5 years or more, 10% live 10 years or more, and 5% will live for more than 20 years. (Mayoclinic.org) (verywellhealth.com)
Mariah will be 24 on July 14th and has already accomplished so many different things. She graduated from Alexandria- Monroe High School in 2014 with Honors and was part of the NHS. She also received a scholarship to attend Ball State University. She worked as a waitress, until she decided to pursue modeling in Chicago, and enjoyed every moment of it. Mariah then decided to obtained her esthetician license from Tricoci University of Beauty Culture. Mariah has definitely always loved a challenge and she has always given it her all. This disease may have abruptly and unfairly come into Mariah’s life, but she STILL has a life she wants to LIVE. And she is determined to live it. She is so young, so absolutely beautiful, and so full of life. She has such a fun and charismatic spirit about her and such a beautiful, and loving soul. She is a goofball too! There is SO much Mariah still wants to do in this life and now has this diagnosis, that has tremendously limited her capability to do the things she’s always wanted to do. She dreams of seeing the world and would love to go to another country just to experience the beauty of it all. She absolutely loves her family and friends. Mariah just wants to enjoy her life with all the people who love her, near and far. All she wants is to love and be loved by all the special people in her life.
Her mother, Kristie, has been doing her best, to help meet Mariah’s needs, for over a year now. She is taking on full responsibility of caring for Mariah’s daily needs as well as working full time. But she needs our help as she can not do this alone. The average cost for somebody with ALS is around $250,000. That is for medical treatments, physical therapy, massage therapy, medications and vitamins, house remodeling to provide handicap accessible arrangements and living, as well as any equipment that is necessary for her care. Right now their biggest priority is to make their bathroom handicap accessible in order to make daily routines easier. She needs a powered wheelchair, and ramps around her house. The list goes on.
Here’s what we are specifically raising money for:
* The medical equipment/treatment funds that are necessary.
* Any alternations to her living space at home to accommodate for handicap accessible
* Constant Physical Therapy/ Massage Therapy for Mariah
* Basic needs for her & her family while the financial pressure is high
* A vacation of a lifetime that Mariah will never forget and always treasure
Please take a moment to pray for this family & consider donating any amount that you can. Any amount is appreciated more than you know.
If you think that you can help in any way or provide any services that may be needed, or if you would like to donate funds or donate any equipment please contact myself, Lexington, or Mariah’s mother, Kristie.
It won't allow us to list our emails so leave a comment on here if you are wanting to personally contact us.
And finally.. Please please please join us in praying and in believing for healing, a miracle, and peace within this amazing family. Day to day life has become very difficult for Mariah and her family. They need our love and support so very much, more now than ever. Let us please come together as friends, and as loved ones, and as a loving and caring community of Alexandria and beyond.. LET US ALL come together and support Mariah and her family in any way we can. PLEASE, Feel free to share Mariah's story as many times as you can. & continue to do so. Let's ALL come together and help this family get the love and support they need. As a Community of Alexandria... lets show Mariah how loved she is. She is stronger than ALS! ❤️#MariahStrong ❤️
(Kristie & I are designing bracelets & t-shirts to support Mariah & her diagnosis. We will update you when those are ready. We will post constant updates about Mariah and her journey on here.)
She started experiencing hand related problems in September of 2018, so much that it started effecting her job. So she scheduled an appointment with a hand specialist/nerve doctor. The doctor ran some tests and then requested several MRI’s to rule out other possibilities. Still with no real answers, she was then referred to a general neurologist. The GN then admitted her overnight and ran every test he could think of, to rule out other possible diagnosis’s. When all the tests came back negative and without a real diagnosis, the GN then referred her to a muscular neurologist. After some additional tests were ran and had CT scans done, the specialist then diagnosed Mariah with ALS in April of 2019. With the diagnosis being so shocking and surreal, Mariah and her family decided they wanted a second opinion so they were referred to The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Once they arrived, they met some of the best and top doctors in their field. Mariah and her family were there for a total of 3 days, and in that time even more test were performed. At the end of her visit, the Doctor at The Mayo Clinic then confirmed her diagnosis of ALS in May of 2019.
What is ALS? Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS, is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. ALS often begins with muscle twitching and weakness in a limb, or slurred speech. Eventually, ALS affects control of the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe. There is no cure for this disease. ALS often starts in the hands, feet or limbs, and then spreads to other parts of your body. As the disease advances and nerve cells are destroyed, your muscles get weaker. This eventually affects chewing, swallowing, speaking and breathing. An ALS diagnosis comes with a 2-5 year life span after the diagnosis. Over 50% of people with ALS live for more than 3 years, 20% live 5 years or more, 10% live 10 years or more, and 5% will live for more than 20 years. (Mayoclinic.org) (verywellhealth.com)
Mariah will be 24 on July 14th and has already accomplished so many different things. She graduated from Alexandria- Monroe High School in 2014 with Honors and was part of the NHS. She also received a scholarship to attend Ball State University. She worked as a waitress, until she decided to pursue modeling in Chicago, and enjoyed every moment of it. Mariah then decided to obtained her esthetician license from Tricoci University of Beauty Culture. Mariah has definitely always loved a challenge and she has always given it her all. This disease may have abruptly and unfairly come into Mariah’s life, but she STILL has a life she wants to LIVE. And she is determined to live it. She is so young, so absolutely beautiful, and so full of life. She has such a fun and charismatic spirit about her and such a beautiful, and loving soul. She is a goofball too! There is SO much Mariah still wants to do in this life and now has this diagnosis, that has tremendously limited her capability to do the things she’s always wanted to do. She dreams of seeing the world and would love to go to another country just to experience the beauty of it all. She absolutely loves her family and friends. Mariah just wants to enjoy her life with all the people who love her, near and far. All she wants is to love and be loved by all the special people in her life.
Her mother, Kristie, has been doing her best, to help meet Mariah’s needs, for over a year now. She is taking on full responsibility of caring for Mariah’s daily needs as well as working full time. But she needs our help as she can not do this alone. The average cost for somebody with ALS is around $250,000. That is for medical treatments, physical therapy, massage therapy, medications and vitamins, house remodeling to provide handicap accessible arrangements and living, as well as any equipment that is necessary for her care. Right now their biggest priority is to make their bathroom handicap accessible in order to make daily routines easier. She needs a powered wheelchair, and ramps around her house. The list goes on.
Here’s what we are specifically raising money for:
* The medical equipment/treatment funds that are necessary.
* Any alternations to her living space at home to accommodate for handicap accessible
* Constant Physical Therapy/ Massage Therapy for Mariah
* Basic needs for her & her family while the financial pressure is high
* A vacation of a lifetime that Mariah will never forget and always treasure
Please take a moment to pray for this family & consider donating any amount that you can. Any amount is appreciated more than you know.
If you think that you can help in any way or provide any services that may be needed, or if you would like to donate funds or donate any equipment please contact myself, Lexington, or Mariah’s mother, Kristie.
It won't allow us to list our emails so leave a comment on here if you are wanting to personally contact us.
And finally.. Please please please join us in praying and in believing for healing, a miracle, and peace within this amazing family. Day to day life has become very difficult for Mariah and her family. They need our love and support so very much, more now than ever. Let us please come together as friends, and as loved ones, and as a loving and caring community of Alexandria and beyond.. LET US ALL come together and support Mariah and her family in any way we can. PLEASE, Feel free to share Mariah's story as many times as you can. & continue to do so. Let's ALL come together and help this family get the love and support they need. As a Community of Alexandria... lets show Mariah how loved she is. She is stronger than ALS! ❤️#MariahStrong ❤️
(Kristie & I are designing bracelets & t-shirts to support Mariah & her diagnosis. We will update you when those are ready. We will post constant updates about Mariah and her journey on here.)
Organizer and beneficiary
Kristie Jimenez
Beneficiary