Emily's ALS Battle

Emily Martindale and Tony Whiting are a young, hard-working couple with a daughter named Tillie, who is just two years old. Emily has recently been diagnosed with ALS/Lou Gehrig's Disease at the young age of 36. With the family knowledge of the disease from Emily's Uncle, Reverend Vivan Martindale and the help of GOFUNDME, I am hoping that there could be some financial relief for Emily and her family's future. Although I have only had the pleasure of knowing and working with Emily for a year and a half, we have built a friendship, and I am amazed by her strength and perseverance every day.

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) - is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. Emily's genetic form of ALS progresses much faster than average. The average life expectancy is 2 - 5 years, and financial demands can range from $100,00 to $200,000 a year.

The challenges are complicated further by Emily's young age. She is around the same age as when her grandfather was diagnosed. ALS has derailed life hopes, goals and accomplishments just as she is beginning to enjoy her young family.

Currently, Emily is in the Culinary Industry and works at her dream job as a Pastry Chef. Her daily work duties are getting increasingly more challenging to perform; similarly, Emily's ability to read and hold her daughter has become increasingly difficult. Constant rapid physical changes and the decreasing capacity of her body to accomplish even the simplest daily household tasks are a struggle. Within six months, Emily's ability to hold a spatula, decorate a cake, scoop cookies, cut bread, and wipe off a work table, has progressively worsened. I can not emphasize enough how fast this disease can take over a person's body.

ALS has afflicted Emily's family for over 200 years. Family history traces symptoms of the disease as far back as Emily's great-grandmother. This genetic form of F-ALS(familial ALS) progresses swiftly. From the onset of symptoms, the disease has taken a family member's life within 12 to 18 months. Because of the aggressive nature of this disease, the ability to put personal affairs(financial, legal, medical, family, childcare) is greatly hindered. Daily physical changes make the simplest everyday tasks extremely difficult for the patient and caregivers.

Emily and Tony face the same challenges that her young grandparents faced nearly 65 years ago. In addition to aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents, Emily's father succumbed to the disease just two years ago after only 11 months. Her grandfather was also 36 and lived 18 months. It has been a harsh and painful scenario repeated through the generations.

Financial assistance will significantly help facilitate speedy adaptations and support the family's future where possible.

They are in need of an apartment on a lower level without stairs, equipment to help her as the disease progresses, childcare, additional care for Emily...the list goes on and on.

I know that $100,000 is a lot to ask for. However, this disease is swift, brutal and unforgiving. Emily and her family deserve the best quality of life they can be given. Her friends and family would appreciate any size gift for Emily and her family. They can not fight this battle alone.