Help Alyssa with her Fierce Fight with ALS
Donation protected
We are #teamjeswaldlee and we support Alyssa Jeswald in her fierce fight with ALS. In 2017, Alyssa was living in a third floor walk up studio in San Francisco with her boyfriend Taylor and working at Boys and Girls Club of America in the city. They had just moved back from Chicago and had been dating for 3 years. As parents and family we saw many things that connected them including a love for the outdoors, fondness for their grandparents and a similar make up of their blended families. The oldest of five sisters, she led by example- active, outdoorsy, spirited, all with a fierce intellect and an independence not to be threatened. Using those strengths/qualities, she worked to create a better place for underprivileged kids .
Late that fall, Alyssa began to stumble, her left foot was not quite her own and she noticed a slight drag. She pulled back on hikes, runs and back packing trips seeking a variety of remedies with physical therapists and doctors. In July of 2018 at the age of 27, she got the horrific diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is a neurological debilitating disease, an illness that is identified only after a battery of tests and other maladies are ruled out.
After dealing with this tragic news, Alyssa and Taylor decided to get married. It was a beautiful celebration of their life and love for one another among the trees and the river surrounded by family and friends.
Around the same time they moved to San Leandro, California as the three story walk up was near impossible for her. Since then several friends and family have moved to the area to be a part of the support system that is needed for ALS. And, as the disease has progressed over the last two years, Alyssa continued to lose mobility in her arms and legs and has limited speech. She needs an increased level of care and assistance for daily, basic needs and these costs are not covered by insurance. At her July clinical appointment, almost exactly 2 years to the date of diagnosis, her doctor discussed three big changes with them. Alyssa would receive a feeding tube by the end of the month to ensure proper nutrition as eating becomes more difficult, an electric wheel chair for increased independence by the end of year and will begin the process for an eye speech tracking devices to enhance her ability to communicate. All of these changes require further adaptations to their home and transportation. For this, we are asking for your help.
While we are usually fund raising for ALS Golden West Chapter this time of year, we are instead asking for funds to help with ongoing care, and to secure a van which can accommodate an electric chair as well as for modifications to their home for wider doorways and an accessible bathroom before the end of the year. Thank you in advance for anything you can do to support Alyssa and Taylor on this journey.
#teamjeswaldlee
Late that fall, Alyssa began to stumble, her left foot was not quite her own and she noticed a slight drag. She pulled back on hikes, runs and back packing trips seeking a variety of remedies with physical therapists and doctors. In July of 2018 at the age of 27, she got the horrific diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is a neurological debilitating disease, an illness that is identified only after a battery of tests and other maladies are ruled out.
After dealing with this tragic news, Alyssa and Taylor decided to get married. It was a beautiful celebration of their life and love for one another among the trees and the river surrounded by family and friends.
Around the same time they moved to San Leandro, California as the three story walk up was near impossible for her. Since then several friends and family have moved to the area to be a part of the support system that is needed for ALS. And, as the disease has progressed over the last two years, Alyssa continued to lose mobility in her arms and legs and has limited speech. She needs an increased level of care and assistance for daily, basic needs and these costs are not covered by insurance. At her July clinical appointment, almost exactly 2 years to the date of diagnosis, her doctor discussed three big changes with them. Alyssa would receive a feeding tube by the end of the month to ensure proper nutrition as eating becomes more difficult, an electric wheel chair for increased independence by the end of year and will begin the process for an eye speech tracking devices to enhance her ability to communicate. All of these changes require further adaptations to their home and transportation. For this, we are asking for your help.
While we are usually fund raising for ALS Golden West Chapter this time of year, we are instead asking for funds to help with ongoing care, and to secure a van which can accommodate an electric chair as well as for modifications to their home for wider doorways and an accessible bathroom before the end of the year. Thank you in advance for anything you can do to support Alyssa and Taylor on this journey.
#teamjeswaldlee
Co-organizers (3)
Kathleen Young
Organizer
Walnut Creek, CA
Taylor Lee
Beneficiary
Alyssa Jeswald
Co-organizer
Jon Jeswald
Co-organizer