Help Carla fight ALS & overwhelming medical bills

My name is Wes, and today, I am reaching out to share the story of my sister, Carla Pope, with you.

Carla is a remarkable soul who, despite facing immense challenges, has always been the first to lend a helping hand.

Sadly, our paths diverged during our early teen years as our parents, despite their best efforts, could not stay together. Carla and I were separated at that time, each going our own way with different guardians. This separation left a profound impact on Carla, shaping her journey to the present.

As an adult, Carla faced the heartbreaking realization that she was physically unable to have children, a dream she had cherished since her youth. Undeterred, she embraced another path to motherhood by marrying Randy in her early twenties. Together, they became parents to five children adopted from the Illinois state foster care system—each child facing their own challenges from troubled backgrounds.

One of their daughters, who endured severe brain damage and was not expected to live past six months, defied the odds and is now 20 years old, expressing love only through her eyes. For these 20 years, she has required 24-hour-a-day assistance including feeding, bathing, hygiene, basically everything a newborn requires but on a larger scale. Carla and Randy have done that and continue to provide for her, now with a little nurse assistance, despite their own personal struggles. It is exhausting for them. Especially Randy who is now in his late 50's, gets little sleep between his physical job as a custodian in a local school system and responsibilities at home. It's definitely taking a toll on him and his health.

In recent years, Carla has confronted a series of health challenges, including muscle degeneration, a feeding tube, and a full tracheotomy. Two years ago, she received a definitive diagnosis of ALS, a relentless disease that has taken a toll on her ability to speak, swallow, and breathe independently. Despite these hardships, Carla's resilience shines through, and she was fortunate to be accepted into a drug trial program offering a glimmer of hope. However, the financial strain is significant, with monthly two-hour drives for infusions causing additional hardships for Carla and Randy.

Carla and Randy, humble and reluctant to seek assistance, recently opened up about their financial struggles. Medical bills, some covered by insurance but many not, continue to mount.

Most recently, Carla now faces the necessity of having all her teeth removed to prevent infections caused by the disease. They have no insurance coverage for this.

This brings me to our humble request: we are reaching out to you for your support.

Carla, true to her nature, would never ask for herself. Your kindness and generosity can make a meaningful difference in her life.

If you can contribute or share Carla's story, we would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you for taking the time to read about Carla's journey.