Hello, my name is Wendy Marsaglia and the sweet man in the picture is my husband, Jamie Marsaglia. This is to hard to type out...Ummm, My husband Jamie is 57 years old this year and was diagnosed with ALS and we learned he has Front Temporal Lobe Dementia on top of it. He worked for many years as a professional painter in Springfield, Illinois, for Dan Deweese Painting and Wood Finishing, but after losing his job unexpectedly through no wrong doing of his own, thats when our world crashed. I had noticed things changing some but dismissed it as tired and overworked, but he still went to work daily traveling from Taylorville Illinois to Springfield Illinois and at times farther for his job. He worked in many businesses in the Springfield Illinois and surrounding area. Now, when I remember back it was warning signs of an illness that seem to come out of nowhere. Despite these struggles, Jamie has always kept going and when I voiced concern for things I was noticing and asked him about he would just say, "I'm ok" and he would walk away. He has always loved cooking and tackling projects around the house and he's still trying to help with things but his hand now barely functions.

This diagnosis has changed everything. Jamie’s health has declined rapidly—he’s lost a great deal of weight, developed what doctors call 'split hand' in his dominant hand, and now has trouble walking. NOW, with the walking and balance issues and now falling at times, I have asked for help with a stair lift chair to get him upstairs to bed and to the bathroom., but was recently told by PennyMac that since we missed a payment deadline which was unavoidable and I told them his diagnosis they have decided to take the only thing we have left, Our Home. I've tried to explain it to Jamie but he keeps saying No, points down to the floor for Here...Stay here at home but I am doing all of this solely on my own. I asked many family members to help on Both sides of the families and none that struggle paycheck to paycheck but those that live very comfortably and was told No. I won't sugarcoat it, they disowned us for asking. My side, my sisters disowned our Mom, who lives here to, for telling them its wrong to treat us badly. I will not be able to keep us in our home so we will try to manage the stairs as best as we can. This is all we have left and Jamie doesn't deserve to be kicked out while he has a Terminal Illness.

I always loved hearing his deep voice but I haven'theard him speak in over a year now, God I miss hearing his voice, I miss having a conversation no matter what the subject is. He struggles to express himself, but ya know, he keeps smiling and keeps going. Watching him go from being so full of life to barely able to do the things he loves is just heartbreaking.

Our family is facing loosing our home and I am asking that if you can help, don't donate if you struggle as well, but if you can, please help. I'm trying to keep up but I have physical limitations that make doing things very difficult but I darn well try. These diseases that hit Jamie was very unexpected and never even crossed my mind that it would be ALS and Front Temporal Lobe Dementia at age 57. Emotionally, I am struggling and trying to keep us afloat but I am at a point where I need to set my pride aside and ask for help.

Your support will help us keep going and maintain gas for transportation for Jamie’s care as many appointments are 2 hours or more of a drive away..one way. Getting help with any medical assistance he may need and provide some stability during this incredibly crushing time. I am doing everything I can, but I see that I can’t do it alone anymore. Please, if you are able or know of businesses that may be able to help us keep going, help me do as much as I can for him. Help me to help him keep his Dignity!! Any support means the world to us. I added a Venmo account, sorry I'm terrible at this stuff. Its under my name Wendy Marsaglia, then has @wmarsaglia.

If you want to mail a card and make Jamie smile, I could read it to him. Our address is 501 W. Poplar St, Taylorville Illinois 62568. Thank you with my whole my heart for caring.