Help Give Elena a Voice with a Speech Device for ALS

We're raising money so my sister, a beloved mom, grandma, and friend, can get a speech-generating device (SGD) before ALS takes her voice completely. ALS is a cruel disease that traps a sharp mind inside a failing body.

This device will allow her to communicate by using her eyes to select words on a screen—words that will then be spoken out loud in her own voice, which will be banked before it disappears, by the SGD. It means she’ll still be able to have conversations, express her thoughts, and stay connected to the world around her even as her body changes. These devices and their set up cost anywhere from $16,000 to $25,000.

It will let her:

This technology isn’t just about speaking—it’s about preserving her independence, identity, and dignity.

Elena is in the center of the main photo here, surrounded by her daughters Maria, Megan, Melissa and son-in-law Phil at the ALS Gala for Hope on April 5, 2025. Just this past Labor Day, she was on a cruise with friends—dancing, laughing, and living life fully. By December, she was diagnosed with ALS. In a few short months, she’s lost the use of key muscles needed for daily living, requires daily assistance, and now her voice is slipping away, too.

She’s still mentally strong and wants to be able to work and live her life to the fullest—and her kids and employer have been incredibly supportive. What we want most is to help her hold on to as much of her independence and identity as possible. We’re lucky that her daughter Megan is able to live with her and provide care day to day, and all her kids live close enough to help out often—but we can’t do this part alone.

Please consider donating if you’re able. And just as important—please share this campaign with your friends, family, or social networks. Every post and every dollar brings us closer to getting her the device she needs while her voice is still here to be captured.

Thank you so much for reading, giving, and sharing.

With gratitude,

The Malfi, Day and Peterson families