Care for Carol...stricken with ALS

Hello, my name is Joy. Although I usually pride myself on living up to my name, at this time, there isn't much joy in our family.

My brother's wife (my sister-in-law), Carol, is a deeply devoted mother to her 22 year old daughter who is currently completing nursing school. Carol is also a dedicated daughter to her surviving parents, wife of 40 years to her hard-working, loving husband and a faithful friend to many. After several months of tests and suffering with increased debilitating symptoms, our sweet Carol has been diagnosed with ALS and was recently hospitalized at The University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia.

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. The Greek translation is "A" means no, "Myo" refers to muscle and "Trophic" means nourishment = "No muscle nourishment." When a muscle has no nourishment, it "atrophies" or wastes away. "Lateral" identifies the areas in a person's spinal cord where portions of the nerve cells that signal and control the muscles are located. As this area degenerates, it leads to scarring or hardening ("sclerosis") in the region.

Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their demise. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, people may lose the ability to speak, eat, move and breathe.

Until you've experience a loved one being diagnosed with a terminal illness you have no idea how adversely your family is affected emotionally, physically, mentally and financially. Their world was turned upside down by three little letters...ALS.

Wanting to provide our loved one with the best treatment possible requires additional expenses her family was not prepared for.

Please find it in your heart to support Carol and her family with either your monetary contribution and/or prayers.

Thank you.

 *The family photo below was taken Thanksgiving Day 2020.