Hi, We are Kim and Venkat and we are raising money to help our former colleague, Jen Emerick, with medical needs associated with her advancing ALS. Jen is facing serious health issues that require specialized medical equipment, as well as a great deal of medication...some still in trial. Please help Jen live her years focused on her daughter, not on medical bills.

Recent post from Jen:

I worked at Highmark 28 years. My goal was to make it to 40 years. But life throws major curve balls and can ruin your plans. About a year ago I started having some weakness in my right hand and arm. I thought maybe some arthritis or carpal tunnel. By Thanksgiving I couldn't even slice through a piece of turkey with a knife. Around the New Year, I finally made an appointment with a neurologist. After a couple of appointments and tests the neurologist said she suspected I had a motor neuron disease. I was sent for more tests, lots of them. With each test I would hope and pray for something other than an motor neuron disease... anything else...but nothing was ever found. All my testing came back normal.

June of this year I was officially diagnosed with ALS and told I have 2-5 years to live. Since then, ALS has been spreading through my body, affecting my other limbs, and constantly affecting my body with fasciculations (twitches that attack and deteriorate my body).

I struggle with every day things like opening a water bottle, opening or closing ziploc bags, washing my hair, getting dressed, opening and closing doors and locks, cooking and eating. Stairs are scary. Everything is heavier than it should be. I drop things. Even a small couch pillow feels like it's ten pounds. Silverware is too heavy for me already. I use paper plates.

There is no cure, and some drugs or treatments that have helped ALS victims, the FDA won't approve. Something exists that could actually help me live, but I don't have access to it!!!!. I'm also on a waiting list for trial meds that may or may not help me.

But what breaks my heart the most is that I'm an only parent for my tween daughter. Will I be here still to help celebrate her graduating from high school in 2027? That's six yrs from now; I was told at most I have five years left. I want more time with her. This is not fair to her.

All that being said, I am not giving up. I will fight this F'd up disease.