Help a New Mom Fighting ALS

Just before Christmas and a week after giving birth to her daughter, my sister Ally received a terrible diagnosis. She has ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease. It’s a terminal disease without a cure, that will eventually rob Ally of her ability to talk, walk, move, and breathe. But for the sake of her daughter, Ally isn’t going down without a fight—and her family is asking for your help.

Ally has always been full of life and love, so it was a no-brainer that soon after they married in 2022, she and husband Brian started trying for a baby. Everyone was overjoyed when Ally got pregnant, although something felt off. Her voice started to slow down, and she slurred while talking. Doctors didn’t realize it at the time, but the first symptoms of ALS were showing.

Ally gave birth to a healthy girl that they named Mary Katherine in December of 2023. But quickly, we realized something was wrong. Ally’s arms gave out when she tried to pick up the baby, and it was difficult to swallow food. A week after her daughter was born, Ally got the diagnosis: ALS.

ALS is a terminal disease with no cure. And while doctors only gave Ally a year to live, she’s fighting tooth and nail to stay alive as long as she can for Mary Katherine. She’s truly a terrific mom, doting on her little girl every second of the day. And Brian is a wonderful dad and partner, taking care of both of them in an impossible situation.

This disease has changed their whole lives. To help care for the baby and Ally, Brian had to leave his job. When it was clear they needed more help, they moved across the country to live with Ally’s parents. ALS is an expensive disease that gets more costly as it progresses, requiring equipment to help the patient walk, eat, talk, and eventually a ventilator to help them breathe. These costs are mounting, made worse by the expenses of moving and a newborn. At this point, Brian and Ally are still trying to pay off the hospital bills from the birth of their daughter.

Any small amount you can give to this loving family would be deeply felt and appreciated. The money will go towards making sure Ally gets the care she needs—including equipment, medication, and hospital bills—and helping to pay for the diapers, formula, and everyday needs for baby Mary Katherine. In the advanced stages of the disease, Ally will eventually need in-home care from a nurse or other medical professional; this money will also serve as a pool that Ally can draw from when that time comes to provide her with care in the comfort of her home.

And please consider sharing with your friends and community, it would mean the world to us.

If you want to know more about Ally, check out her social media at https://www.tiktok.com/@allycatblu