My name is Isaac and I started this gofundme for my father Ethan. In late 2015, early 2016, my father starting feeling off, but like most grown strong men, tried to ignore it. It was not until he started falling and had muscle spasms did he start to worry. Doctors did months of testing and in the middle of 2016 a diagnosis was delivered, ALS.  He was only in his 40's when first being diagnosed, which is younger then normal. My father has always been a strong minded man and even given a incurable disease he had it in his mind he was going to somehow beat this. The doctor had pretty much given my father 2-3 years to live, but my father was not taking that lightly and was determined to outlast it.

Immediately stopping his everyday life activities and force feeding himself until he was sick to keep his weight up, we are now in year 5. For the first almost 4 years, it was my fathers girlfriend who was a RN (she had to quit her job to take care of him full time) mainly taking care of him with me aiding when I could, as I lived over an hour away with a full time job and in college. Finally after 4 years we were able to get assistance from the state to have in home care, where a nursing assistant would come to the house for 4-5 hours a day usually 3-4 days a week. Just recently have we had the ability to have increased hours of 11am-6pm Monday-Friday.

Since we are in year 5, the disease has progressed significantly and the home care is extremely difficult. The toll it has taken on both my fathers girlfriend and myself can clearly be seen from all the restless nights and stress. My fathers usually strong mind and will, can clearly be seen fading away as he feels a burden (even though we always remind him he is not and that he is loved). What is needed is a night nurse and weekend help, as the foundation of what runs this house is at risk. There are other things needed such as a new customized bed, as the one from 4 years ago is not suitable for someone in his condition (since he is confided to it) and other ALS medical equipment that assistance is not available for.

I myself am I proud person, and asking for help is something I never do, but no one was prepared for a diagnosis like this and what comes with it. So any money raised would be going towards in home care and any medical equipment that would assist and give my father even 5 minutes of relief from the consistent pain he is in.

I thank anyone who donates

God Bless