Help my mom, Lana Ducre, as she battles ALS!

Hi everyone, my name is Alana Ducre and I am a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I currently work for Carolina Football as a Student Office Assistant. This past fall of 2021, I found news that drastically changed my life. My mom, my only living parent, was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). 

 

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurological disease that primarily affects the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement. The condition is progressive, meaning the symptoms worsen over time, attacking a person's ability to walk, talk, eat and eventually breathe. Currently, there is no cure for ALS and no effective treatment to halt or reverse the progression of the disease. The average lifespan is 2 to 5 years from the onset of symptoms.

 

I am sharing this GoFundMe on the behalf of my mom. A die-hard Saints fan, she was born and raised in New Orleans, LA. My dad passed away when I was young, and I have no siblings, so it’s always been me and her against the world. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, we were forced to evacuate and plant roots in Atlanta, GA. We were homeless upon arrival, but my mom worked hard to make a way for us. Thanks to full academic merit scholarships, I've been able to attend private school (K-12) at the Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Ga and now UNC. Never missing a softball game or school activity, my mom has always been my biggest supporter. Now it’s time for me to support her. 

 

Lana's speech has started to slur and she cannot dress herself, drive or complete everyday tasks. She recently had feeding tube surgery and is temporarily living with my aunt in Houston, TX because I had to return to school and cannot provide the daily care she needs. The disease has progressed much faster than we've anticipated. My mom is in need of help. First, we'd appreciate your prayers more than anything. Prayers for peace, comfort and understanding. Second, financial assistance to help offset the costs of medicine, medical equipment, housing accommodations and a full-time nurse to extend and improve her quality of life.

 

According to HuffPost.com “ALS is a very expensive disease, costing patients an estimated $300,000 per year. Majority of patients bankrupt their families with the cost and an even larger number simply can’t afford the cost to stay alive, so they don’t.

For those of you who know her, you know Lana has always exuded strength, never shied away from cracking a joke and constantly showers people with positive energy. My mom is a fighter and will continue to battle this disease in hopes of a cure.

After graduation in May, I plan to move back in with her to provide daily care with the help of a nurse while I start work full-time. All proceeds from this GoFundMe will go directly to her in order to cover medical bills, treatments and an in-home nurse. 

If you're not able to donate, I would love if you could share this link with friends, family and social media. Thank you guys. I will certainly keep you posted on her health updates as well as where your donations have been put to use.