Alicia has lost her battle with ALS

*On Sep. 21,2020 Alicia lost her battle with ALS. Help Alicia Fight ALS Until recently Alicia Mendiola lived a normal life. She is only 48 and was diagnosed in November with ALS. Alicia is now facing one of her toughest fights. We are hoping to raise money for Alicia and her family to help with treatment, medical expenses, and to allow her to enjoy the time she has left with her family. Most of us have heard about ALS from the ‘ice bucket challenge’ that made news in 2014. But what do we really know about ALS? ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. It is a degenerative disease where muscle tissue in the body slowly dies and causes increasing paralysis over time. The cause is unknown. Medication and therapy can help slow the effects of ALS, but there in no cure. ALS is always fatal. Here is Alicias story. Alicia graduated from Fresno State University at age 24. After graduating she wanted to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. At age 25 she began teaching a class full of kindergarten children. At age 31 she married her best friend and the man that would become her partner in life, Justin. At 32 she became a mother for the first time to a baby girl Justine. At 40 she gave birth to her second child, Nicholas. Life was great. Alicia had the life and fulfilling career she had worked so hard for. Then in a blink of an eye that would all change. In August 2019 the school year began as any other but soon after Alicia was alarmed that she could no longer walk from one side of her classroom to the other. Something was wrong. At age 48 after numerous tests, Alicia was diagnosed with ALS this November. Her family was devastated. Alicia was forced to leave the teaching job she loved due to the disease. No longer able to do the job that brought her so much joy for twenty-three years has been tremendously difficult for her to accept. To make matters worse, her health insurance company whom she’s had for years is actively trying to drop her coverage. The disease has recently become more aggressive. Although she refuses to let it stop her. Alicia is hoping to make as many memories with her children before the disease makes it impossible to leave the house and eventually takes over her body. She would like to take her family to Disneyland one last time and forget about ALS for the day. With your help we can make this happen. Please consider donating. Our family thanks you for your kind prayers and donations you can graciously give.