Not all super heroes wear capes. Some like Damion Victor- father, husband, brother, friend, and so much more - wear the badge of courage each and every day inspiring those around him as he fights ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease. Diagnosed September 1, 2017, Damion has been in many ways both blessed and unlucky to have a slow progressing form of the disease, but recently, Damion's condition has progressed to the degree where the family needs help with his daily care.

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord whereby overtime a person loses the ability to walk, talk, all together move, eat, and eventually breathe on their own. Average life expectancy is 2-5 years, but truthfully, there is really no way to predict how long someone will live. Unfortunately, there is no cure.

Before ALS robbed him of his ability to move, Damion was a talented athlete known for his basketball skills that he passed on to his son Dominic. Damion never missed one of Dominic's games and was always the loudest fan cheering on the team until ALS took his legs and voice. He was also known for his passion for motorcycles spending his weekends at the racetrack coaching and riding. Damion's fun loving spirit, huge sense of humor, and devilish grin still endure as he fights ALS. He had and still does have a love of super heroes watching every movie in that genre and has been known to dress up in costume from time to time. On Halloween, he would ride his motorcycle downtown donning either a Spiderman or Superman costume to put a smile on children's faces.

Almost four years since his diagnosis, Damion has now progressed to the point to where he can no longer walk, cannot move his arms or hands, and his speech is all but gone. He requires help being moved to the bathroom, getting dressed, and being fed. However, it is not just these big tasks that we often think of that he can no longer do. The simplest tasks that we take for granted are impossible for him - changing the channel on the TV, scratching his face, changing positions in a chair, picking up the phone to call someone, pulling his blanket up, and even trying to communicate a thought. Perhaps, the most horrible aspect of ALS is that the mind is unaffected remaining just as sharp as ever. Damion is literally trapped in his own body dependent on others to help him.

Damion has his wife Nichole, two sons Dom (15) and Max (9), and a handful of close friends who help care for him. His wife works fulltime with a schedule that varies from week to week. With school being closed and virtual learning held from March of 2020 until now, Damion's sons have been home every day and helped to aid him while Nichole was at work. With school returning in person, Damion will now be left alone at home and an immediate home caregiver is needed. Unfortunately, the insurance will not cover home caregiving which is a huge financial burden for the family. Like the super hero he is, Damion down plays his own needs still putting those around him first. His strength, courage, fight, and positivity are unimaginable in the face of this horrible disease.