WHAT WE NEED: We need your help funding a handicap-accessible van for our mom, Marie, who was diagnosed with ALS last year. This will help her go to appointments and improve her quality of life as she transitions to a wheelchair full-time. These vans are quite expensive-- even used-- so any donation you feel comfortable contributing (big or small!) will help. In the future, we plan on donating this van to other families impacted by ALS.

OUR STORY: In May 2024, our mom Marie was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is a neurological disease that causes progressive muscle weakness, paralysis, and difficulty speaking, swallowing, and breathing. Devastatingly, there is no cure, and average life expectancy once diagnosed is 2-5 years.

The last year and a half has been a surreal and heartbreaking journey for our mom, family and friends. In February 2024, she was told by a specialist that he suspected the loss of muscle in her left arm was ALS. She was subsequently forced to quit her waitressing job as she had a harder time lifting trays and walking at her typical brisk pace. In May, after a few visits to a neurologist at Mass General in Boston, she was officially diagnosed, and soon after needed a walker to help with walking and keeping her balance. In the last 6 months, we’ve broached several hard milestones – getting her wheelchair, having her license revoked, starting the voice banking process, and getting a ramp installed at her house.

The next milestone in her ALS journey is getting a handicap-accessible van to fit her electric wheelchair.

THANK YOU! We really appreciate your donation and support! Feel free to share well wishes here as well and we'll make sure she gets your message!

Love,

Her Daughters -- Caitlin and Kelly