Fundraiser for Kim Grimes battle against ALS
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Kim (Norman) Grimes’ family and friends are uniting to help raise funds for her medical expenses associated with her battle against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, commonly referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease.
During 2019, Kim had started to notice her left foot dropping, and not being able to lift it. Soon thereafter came some unsteadiness, needing the use of a cane, and a slight slur in her speech. Finally, in April of 2020, Kim and her family received the absolute heartbreaking news of an ALS diagnosis. Being the fighter that she is, Kim continued to work throughout much of 2020. In December 2020, she was forced to retire after a 36-year career at the Women’s Health Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, due to her increasing physical limitations of the disease.
Kim’s symptoms have progressively been worsening. She is not yet in a wheelchair, but one has been ordered, and her strength is declining. Kim is still able to speak, but with increasing difficulty. Long conversations deplete her energy significantly.
A 2014 cost of ALS Study** (linked below) notes the average cost of an ALS patient is $1.4 million throughout the duration of the disease. On average, families pay 9% of that cost out-of-pocket. Adjusted for cumulative inflation to 2021, the 9% has now become $145,000.
Some large costs have already been incurred by the family, such as an ADA compliant first-floor bathroom. Mounting ALS care costs and an unexpected loss of income continue to accumulate, and her husband Bob is currently her primary caretaker. Funding raised for Kim will go directly to assist covering medical expenses and the needs of the Grimes Family. The hope of this page is to relieve some of the financial burden and make the day-to-day life of Kim and her family less challenging.
Your support in any form is very appreciated and is exceedingly helpful. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking the time to read Kim’s story, and assist the family. God bless.
** https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25245119/
During 2019, Kim had started to notice her left foot dropping, and not being able to lift it. Soon thereafter came some unsteadiness, needing the use of a cane, and a slight slur in her speech. Finally, in April of 2020, Kim and her family received the absolute heartbreaking news of an ALS diagnosis. Being the fighter that she is, Kim continued to work throughout much of 2020. In December 2020, she was forced to retire after a 36-year career at the Women’s Health Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, due to her increasing physical limitations of the disease.
Kim’s symptoms have progressively been worsening. She is not yet in a wheelchair, but one has been ordered, and her strength is declining. Kim is still able to speak, but with increasing difficulty. Long conversations deplete her energy significantly.
A 2014 cost of ALS Study** (linked below) notes the average cost of an ALS patient is $1.4 million throughout the duration of the disease. On average, families pay 9% of that cost out-of-pocket. Adjusted for cumulative inflation to 2021, the 9% has now become $145,000.
Some large costs have already been incurred by the family, such as an ADA compliant first-floor bathroom. Mounting ALS care costs and an unexpected loss of income continue to accumulate, and her husband Bob is currently her primary caretaker. Funding raised for Kim will go directly to assist covering medical expenses and the needs of the Grimes Family. The hope of this page is to relieve some of the financial burden and make the day-to-day life of Kim and her family less challenging.
Your support in any form is very appreciated and is exceedingly helpful. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking the time to read Kim’s story, and assist the family. God bless.
** https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25245119/
Co-organizers (2)
Jeff Norman
Organizer
Kennett Square, PA
Save Malverns Habitat
Co-organizer