Help "Jalal" with ALS treatments

Dear Family and Friends of Beatrice and Jalal Burton; 


 I need your help! Can you imagine for one quick moment what it would be like to slowly lose the function of your arms and legs without understanding why this is happening to you? Those were the words Jalal said to me to describe ALS, a muscle wasting and brain-damaging disease that causes paralysis of arms and legs. Patients with this disease also slowly and overtime lose the ability to swallow, move, and eventually breathing becomes a struggle. 


Who is Jalal?  Jalal (on the right side) is my brother in law who has been happily married to my sister (Beatrice Burton) for 20 years.  We are starting this fundraiser to highlight and bring awareness to this disease as we understand first hand the many struggles in his life while living with ALS. We are asking for your help to support him and his family through their struggle with ALS.


 Like Jalal, I am a father also and I understand the dreams of wanting to provide for your family and give your children the very best. Now, imagine the feeling of not being able to accomplish that, but at the same time, he realizes that he's blessed to have a loving family that supports him. 


Up until now, we've tried to follow everything that would provide a remedy to the disease and slow the progression, but some methods aren't working and we need to step it up because we simply are running out of options and time. 


The impact of this disease is heavy, but we get the sense that the hope of healing and mobility is giving him the motivation he needs to go on and get the medical care he needs in order for him to improve.   


Life was different for this 43 yrs old father who worked until this disease changed his life leaving him unable to work and provide for his family. 


Diagnosis:


About 3 years ago my brother in law began to notice some pain in his back, then as the months went on he noticed the pain getting worse. Being a tough guy, he put off the doctor until the pain became unbearable, which turns out, he needed surgery in his neck to alleviate the pain.  


Around the same time, he noticed some marked improvement, but then came the numbness in his legs and arms first expressed with trouble walking and balance; that's when he knew then something was very wrong.  After his doctor conducted tests to eliminate other possibilities, his neurologist broke the news; it was ALS. 

What is ALS? 

This diagnosis will require immediate and intensive treatment, it is a very expensive disease to live with.  ALS foundation estimates that care for a person living with ALS is over $200k a year. Medical insurance is limited to what they will cover. If a person with ALS is looking into unconventional treatment, insurance will not pay for it. 


After researching ALS online, we came across the healing ALS site that gave us hope knowing that others have successfully fought this disease and won.  We are currently looking into hyperbaric oxygen treatments, vitamin supplements, and ozone therapy. In the immediate future, we would like to see my brother in law get to the hyperbaric oxygen clinic in Philadelphia called Oxygen Oasis Hyperbaric Wellness Center.  This center has reported treating someone else with ALS with improvement. 


His condition has begun to decline and we simply do not want to see him suffer any longer.  Every minute counts with this disease and you never know what obstacles tomorrow may hold much less next month. 

  

To anyone who takes the time to read this and to anyone who gives support, no matter how little, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  No words can express our gratitude for your kindness and prayers during this time that great healing is needed.  


Jalal and his lovely wife, Beatrice have always been a brilliant example of couples living in faith, trusting in God and believing in the goodness of everyday people. The family is united in Christ and our resolve in helping Jalal through this unimaginable trial which knows no bounds. The Burton family will glorify God throughout this very difficult time in their lives. Jalal and Beatrice have faced other trials in life and their resolve to find love and gratitude never ceases to amaze those that know them. They function as a cornerstone of strength to their community.


A diagnosis of ALS takes a crippling and emotional toll on both the patient and the family who must care for him.  We hope that together we can help relieve some of the Burton family's enormous financial burden to help them through these frightening and unchartered waters.  Let us all come together to help them so that Jalal can receive the quality care that he deserves and that his wife of 20 years on August 11, 2020, can be by his side through this crisis.


We have set the fundraising goal to $25,000 since the needs of each person battling ALS are quite varied and unknown. Any amount would be appreciated, and if you cannot donate at this time, maybe you could share this with others in your circle of friends.  


Here’s a link, If you'd like to learn more about ALS: 

what is ALS?