Hi! We are Team Rachel, friends and colleagues of sweet Rachel. Rachel has worked with us at Moe Plumbing for more than 10 years, while Juan has been in the plumbing industry for nearly 20 years and an employee at our sister company, Merry Plumbing. Here is their story:

Starting at the end of 2022, Rachel began to notice that her voice and speech weren't the same. She was also experiencing shortness of breath. At the beginning the symptoms weren’t very severe However, Rachel began to visit her doctor and began to receive referrals to specialists to help determine the cause of her voice loss and shortness of breath. After several visits to pulmonologists, ENT specialists, speech therapists along with numerous CT scans, X-rays and other tests doctors were stumped by the cause of her voice loss and shortness of breath. Sadly in September of 2023 Rachel went into respiratory failure and ended up going to the emergency room. She was immediately intubated to allow her body to receive the oxygen she needed. She spent 3 weeks in the ICU where the doctors performed a tracheostomy to establish a more permanent airway. Hospital doctors were still not able to determine a diagnosis for her. After 3 weeks in the ICU she was stable enough to be transferred to an acute recovery center to continue her healing process. In late October 2023 she was released from the recovery center and deemed healthy enough to be released to go home. Rachel remained on supplemental oxygen and needed 24hr care at home. After her release she still did not have a diagnosis or any answers to explain what she was experiencing. She continued to see her doctor for follow-ups and also with specialists to continue the search for a diagnosis. Without a diagnosis there is no treatment.

It wasn’t until December of 2023 when she visited a neurologist who ran a number of tests. The results of those tests determined that she was suffering from a motor neuron disease known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS. This was a tremendous punch in the gut to Rachel, her spouse Juan and their family. With no known cure for such a disease it was very difficult to accept such a diagnosis at her young age.

Questions on how to explain this to her two young daughters became overwhelming. With so much uncertainty ahead for Rachel, Juan and their family they have no other option but to accept what’s happening and fight through this. Rachel remains strong, brave and hopeful. She continues to fight through all the ailments that this disease causes. They realize that moving forward whatever happens is in the Hands of God. They remain close to their faith and are cherishing every minute that they have to spend with their children.

Rachel is no longer able to work and Juan, as her primary caretaker, is now tasked with taking care of Rachel and their children which has pulled him away from his work as a plumber where he has been a member of Local 398 for nearly 20 years.

We would like to raise money to support Rachel and Juan during this trying time. It is our hope to raise enough money to alleviate the cost of medical bills as well as the cost of living for them so that they can focus on Rachel's care.

Please consider any sized donation to help this family.

A Note from Juan:

We have been blessed to have such great help and support from friends and family members. As this disease progresses the support Rachel receives will also need to progress. The demand becomes greater daily and constant adjustments are made to remain positive, hopeful and emotionally clear minded. With continued help and support it will help alleviate the stress of fighting this battle. We accept and are extremely grateful for any help and support. We thank all those involved in our journey. Especially the Moe team and all of our family and friends.