Help JoAnn Kocher's fight with ALS

Dear Friends and Family,

It is with a heavy heart that I reach out to you today to share the news of my mother, JoAnn Kocher's, recent diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). For those who don't know, ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It is a cruel and devastating illness that slowly robs a person of their ability to speak, eat, move, and even breathe. As her child, it is devastating to watch her slowly lose her abilities and to know there is no known cure for this debilitating disease.

My mother is a remarkable woman who has dedicated her life to her family and community. She’s the loving wife to John Kocher, the mother of Kevin and William, the stepmother to John, Tim, and Matt; and the grandmother of 13 beautiful grandbabies. She has always been a hard worker and a giver, volunteering her time and resources to support those around her. She is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary at the American Legion Post 524 and loves to travel, dance, and host endless dinner parties for friends and family.

However, since receiving her diagnosis, my mother's life has been turned upside down. She can no longer do the things she loves and is losing her independence day by day. As her family, we want to support her as much as possible during this difficult time. Unfortunately, the costs associated with this disease are astronomical. The average person diagnosed with ALS ends up paying over $200,000 out of pocket to ensure care, medications, therapy, and adaptive equipment. This is a burden that no family should have to bear alone.

That is why I am reaching out to you today. We have set up a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for my mother's care. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a huge impact on our family. It will help ease the financial burden and allow us to focus on what's most important, spending time with my mother and making sure she knows how much we love and support her.

I know my mother will hate that we are doing a fundraiser for her, but as her children, we want to do everything we can to ease the burden. If you can donate, please do so, and if you can't, please share this fundraiser with your friends and family. We are grateful for any help you can give us during this difficult time.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for your support.

Sincerely,

Kevin Forbes