ALS is Devastating: Please Help us Help Carol

We are creating this page for our very dear and loving friend Carol Stanzione. As we all know, life can change in a moment’s notice and as the saying goes, “there but for the grace of God go I”. Carol’s life took a most dreadful turn in July 2023 when she was given the devastating diagnosis of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - Lou Gehrig’s disease). ALS has been around for over 80 years, yet it continues to be extremely hard to diagnose and there is no approved treatment for it, only trials. Most of us know what ALS is and how the story ends. Carol wanted to keep her diagnosis private. She didn’t want to be treated any differently and she didn’t want pity. She was determined to remain in the light of life, remain committed to her craft as an actress and voice over talent and teacher. Committed to her students, her goal was to continue working during the week at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles where she created the voice over department. On weekends she continued doing what she enjoyed, which was spending time with her loving circle of friends, hiking, listening to music and dancing. Carol has set the bar high where it comes to determination!

In 2024 her ALS symptoms were more prevalent, but she didn’t miss a beat with her work or social life. By mid-summer Carol’s muscles were weakening with her needing the assistance of a walker. Changes were noticeable with her speech and with each passing month, ALS continued to show its ugly presence more and more. The voiceover artist lost her ability to speak. She continued communicating through a text/talk app on her phone.

Carol flew back to NJ on December 5th and was hospitalized on December 6th with Pneumonia and a collapsed lung. She was hospitalized throughout the holiday season and New Year’s. January through March Carol was in rehab. Even with discouraging and challenging days, Carol is not surrendering to ALS.

She is now living in her sister’s home where they converted the dining room into a bedroom. She can’t talk, can no longer walk, her ability to swallow is compromised with her now permanently on a feeding tube. Carol requires a high level of care along with lots of adaptive equipment. Although she has insurance, it barely covers the basics. While needing to hold down her full-time job and a part time job, her sister has become a full-time caregiver/nurse. The cost of making her sister's house accessible and providing Carol with at-home caregiver support goes way beyond what the insurance covers. She needs help to perform the needed daily necessities of living, i.e. - being moved from bed to the wheelchair and back, bathing, dressing, toileting, feeding through the feeding tube, suctioning as needed, addressing digestion issues, etc.....

Carol’s mind is intact, and she is very present. She still has the ability to laugh and smile, seeking enjoyment in life with things to look forward to. This makes it much more important for her to have a quality of life where she can have fun and not be home-bound feeling trapped within four walls.

Why We Need Your Help:

We are raising funds to help cover the significant costs for her care that are not covered by insurance:

* Essential medical equipment and home modifications to make daily life safer and more comfortable.

*Therapies and treatments that can help slow the progression of the disease.

*Ongoing expenses for caregiving, medications, and other out-of-pocket costs that her family will need to bear.

How Your Contribution Will Make a Difference:

Every donation, no matter how big or small, will help lighten the financial burden on Carol and her family, allowing them to focus on what truly matters. Your support will help give Carol a better quality of life, maintain her dignity, and provide her with the necessary tools to navigate the overwhelming emotional and physical challenges of ALS.