On June 5, 2020, a day before her 56th birthday, Melissa Morrison was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.  ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that affects cells in the brain and the spinal cord, resulting in decreased muscle strength.   As muscles get weaker, it gets harder to walk, talk, eat, and breathe.  Eventually the muscles become paralyzed or atrophy (die).  While medications and therapies can help slow ALS and reduce discomfort, currently there is no cure for this debilitating, progressive, and fatal disease. 

 In the past six months, Melissa’s leg mobility has declined to the point that she now requires a mobile chair to move around.  She recently moved into the spare bedroom in order to utilize the new twin-size adjustable bed (not covered by insurance/medicare) and the non-invasive ventilated breathing machine that she uses at night that helps with sleep quality and better lung function.   Patrick, with the help of friends, has installed a ramp at the front of their house and rebuilt the back porch to make it easier for Melissa to enter and leave the house.  The only bathroom in their home was recently gutted and remodeled in order to make it handicap accessible for Melissa’s current and future needs.  Her ALS medical team is at the University of San Francisco, meaning a 550 mile round trip visit and hotel stays as the travel is exhausting.   Meanwhile Melissa receives local treatments that include visits with physical and occupational therapists, a respiratory therapist, a nutritionist, and a pharmacopeia of different medications to help with multiple symptoms.  The costs they have incurred so far for the things not covered by insurance have depleted their savings.

As Melissa’s dexterity and mobility continue to decline, and as her lung capacity diminishes, there will be many more medical related expenses to make adaptations to their home and way of life, more trips to UCSF, and eventually a motorized wheelchair which will then lead to needing a van to transport the wheelchair and Melissa.  At some point, there will come a need for in-home caregiver support and skilled nursing.  These expenses add up fast, causing worry and stress to an already devastating diagnosis.

Melissa and her husband Patrick are humble and reserved.  They are not the type of people who are comfortable asking for help, but they are very deserving of this gesture and so much more.  For many years Melissa was a devoted caregiver for both of her parents; her dad, RD,  lost his battle with cancer and a few short years later Candy, Melissa’s mom, developed dementia that led to Patrick and Melissa moving Candy into their home.  For several years Melissa provided round-the-clock care for Candy until she passed.   Melissa has been a devoted Girl Scout Troop Leader for over 25 years.  Patrick has coached youth recreational soccer, competitive travel soccer, and local girls high school soccer for a combined 25+ years.  He is currently the coach of the Arcata High Girls Varsity Soccer team. Since being diagnosed with ALS, Melissa has had to quit her jobs with Inside Sports and Arcata House Partnership.  Together, Melissa and Patrick are proud parents of their daughter, Aedan and her partner Isaiah Griffin.  The dedication Melissa and Patrick have shown to the youth in our community is admirable and now it is our turn to show them how much we care and support them.

**photo by Kenneth Johnson, CKC Image