<div><strong>WHAT WE NEED: </strong>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.
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<div><strong>OUR STORY: </strong>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.
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<div>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.
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<div>The next milestone in her ALS journey is getting a handicap-accessible van to fit her electric wheelchair.
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<div><strong>THANK YOU! </strong>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!
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<div>Love,
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<div>Her Daughters -- Caitlin and Kelly
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Chris Welch

Mary Provost

Manhee Kim

Brendan O’Shea

Parth Thaker

CJ Poole

John Fluharty

Tina Bissonette

Mary Gagne

Anonymous

Tim White

Kevin Whitten

Lisa Fernald

Cynthia Reed

Gary Cook

Mary L Crafton

Danielle Fortin

Ryan Eckert

Denise Doyle

Katie Eckert

Help us Fund a Van for Marie's ALS Needs

Help us Fund a Van for Marie's ALS Needs

Still $11,495 to go. Help us build momentum.