Help Greg Fight ALS

For those that don’t know Greg Vanison or his story, please take a minute to get to know him and consider donating, even just a little. Greg retired from the military after serving 20 years in both the Army and the Marines. He is an attorney, a husband of almost 20 years to his wife Dusty, and a father to Erika and Gregory. Greg is funny, adventurous, a great storyteller, and a loyal friend.

One day he started walking funny; he would stumble and his legs didn’t move quite right. He thought he sustained an injury to his hips in jujitsu. After months and months of testing, dozens of doctors, and disagreements regarding the diagnosis, he was finally told he had ALS. Greg was diagnosed in December 2019 while he was still serving full-time in the military. He was only 38 when the signs started showing. Now, 2 years after his diagnosis, he’s lost most of his ability to use his limbs and his speech is slurred to the point that only Dusty can translate his words.

While Greg has tried many different treatments, most have minimal results. However, the Vanison’s did find a treatment that produces noticeable improvements at a center in Miami. There is a clinic there that developed a specific regiment that has shown to have tremendous effects with Greg’s ALS. After treatments, his speech improves and he has greater mobility in his limbs. However, it is not covered by insurance. Dusty has been traveling with Greg to Miami for almost 2 years. The treatments and hotel stays have become very expensive. Because they are all out of pocket, they have only been able to stay for 7-10 days at a time. Greg needs to be able to stay in Miami for 3 weeks in order to get the full benefit of the treatment. A 3-week stay would allow give him a chance to improve the use of his upper limbs and improve his speech. He could have a conversation again and feed himself.

Our fundraising goal would almost pay for an entire 3 week treatment and hotel stay. Even the smallest amount adds up. I don’t know if we will ever find a cure for ALS, but we have a chance to help one soldier take back control of this disease.